Metabolic disturbances and worsening of atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE-/- mice after cola beverages drinking.

Atherosclerosis is a major health burden. Metabolic disorders had been associated with large consumption of soft drinks. The rising incidence of atherosclerosis and metabolic alterations warrants the study of long-term soft drink consumption´ effects on metabolism and atherosclerosis in genetic deficiency of apolipoprotein E which typically develops spontaneous atherosclerosis and metabolic alterations.Fil: Otero-Losada, Matilde Estela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Mc Laughlin, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Rodriguez-Granillo, Gastón. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Müller, Angélica. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Ottaviano, Graciela Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Moriondo, Marisa Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Cutrin, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Milei, Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina

Forecasting malaria incidence based on monthly case reports and environmental factors in Karuzi, Burundi, 1997–2003

BACKGROUND: The objective of this work was to develop a model to predict malaria incidence in an area of unstable transmission by studying the association between environmental variables and disease dynamics. METHODS: The study was carried out in Karuzi, a province in the Burundi highlands, using time series of monthly notifications of malaria cases from local health facilities, data from rain and temperature records, and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) methodology, a model showing the relation between monthly notifications of malaria cases and the environmental variables was developed. RESULTS: The best forecasting model (R2adj = 82%, p < 0.0001 and 93% forecasting accuracy in the range +/- 4 cases per 100 inhabitants) included the NDVI, mean maximum temperature, rainfall and number of malaria cases in the preceding month. CONCLUSION: This model is a simple and useful tool for producing reasonably reliable forecasts of the malaria incidence rate in the study area

Does peer learning or higher levels of e-learning improve learning abilities? A randomized controlled trial

Background and aims : The fast development of e-learning and social forums demands us to update our understanding of e-learning and peer learning. We aimed to investigate if higher, pre-defined levels of e-learning or social interaction in web forums improved students&#x2019; learning ability. Methods : One hundred and twenty Danish medical students were randomized to six groups all with 20 students (eCases level 1, eCases level 2, eCases level 2+, eTextbook level 1, eTextbook level 2, and eTextbook level 2+). All students participated in a pre-test, Group 1 participated in an interactive case-based e-learning program, while Group 2 was presented with textbook material electronically. The 2+ groups were able to discuss the material between themselves in a web forum. The subject was head injury and associated treatment and observation guidelines in the emergency room. Following the e-learning, all students completed a post-test. Pre- and post-tests both consisted of 25 questions randomly chosen from a pool of 50 different questions. Results : All students concluded the study with comparable pre-test results. Students at Level 2 (in both groups) improved statistically significant compared to students at level 1 (p&#x003E;0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between level 2 and level 2+. However, level 2+ was associated with statistically significant greater student&#x0027;s satisfaction than the rest of the students (p&#x003E;0.05). Conclusions : This study applies a new way of comparing different types of e-learning using a pre-defined level division and the possibility of peer learning. Our findings show that higher levels of e-learning does in fact provide better results when compared with the same type of e-learning at lower levels. While social interaction in web forums increase student satisfaction, learning ability does not seem to change. Both findings are relevant when designing new e-learning materials

Determination of diquat by flow injection-chemiluminescence

A simple, economic, sensitive and rapid method for the determination of the pesticide diquat was described. This new method was based on the coupling of flow injection analysis methodology and direct chemiluminescent detection; to the authors' knowledge, this approach had not been used up to now with this pesticide. It was based on its oxidation with ferricyanide in alkaline medium; significant improvements in the analytical signal were achieved by using high temperatures and quinine as sensitiser. Its high throughput (144 h(-1)), together with its low limit of detection (2 ng mL(-1)), achieved without need of preconcentration steps, permitted the reliable quantification of diquat over the linear range of (0.01-0.6) mu g mL(-1) in samples from different origins (river, tap, mineral and ground waters), even in the presence of a 40-fold concentration of paraquat, a pesticide commonly present in the commercial formulations of diquat.López-Paz, JL.; Catalá-Icardo, M.; Antón Garrido, B. (2009). Determination of diquat by flow injection-chemiluminescence. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 394(4):1073-1079. doi:10.1007/s00216-009-2609-zS107310793944Hayes WJ Jr, Laws ER Jr (1991) Handbook of pesticide toxicology, Academic Press, San DiegoUS Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/06WDW/contaminants/dw_contamfs/diquat.html (accessed in August 2008)Horwitz W (2000) Official methods of analysis of AOAC International 17th edition. AOAC International, Gaithersburg, MD, USAHara S, Sasaki N, Takase D, Shiotsuka S, Ogata K, Futagami K, Tamura K (2007) Anal Sci 23(5):523–531Rial Otero R, Cancho Grande B, Pérez Lamela C, Simal Gandara J, Aria Estevez M (2006) J Chromatogr Sci 44(9):539–542Aramendia MA, Borau V, Lafont F, Marinas JM, Moreno JM, Porras JM, Urbano FJ (2006) Food Chem 97(1):181–188Nuñez O, Moyano E, Galceran MT (2004) Anal Chim Acta 525(2):183–190Martinez Vidal JL, Belmonte Vega A, Sanchez Lopez FJ, Garrido Frenich AJ (2004) Chromatogr A 1050(2):179–184Lee XP, Kumazawa T, Fujishiro M, Hasegawa C, Arinobu T, Seno H, Sato K (2004) J Mass Spectrom 39(10):1147–1152De Almeida RM, Yonamine M (2007) J Chromatogr B 853(1–2):260–264De Souza D, Machado SAS (2006) Electroanalysis 18(9):862–872De Souza D, Da Silva MRC, Machado SAS (2006) Electroanalysis 18(23):2305–2313Picó Y, Rodriguez R, Manes J (2003) Trends Anal Chem 22(3):133–151Ishiwata T (2004) Bunseki Kagaku 53(8):863–864Carneiro MC, Puignou L, Galcerán MT (2000) Anal Chim Acta 408:263Luque M, Rios A, Valcarcel M (1998) Analyst 123(11):2383–2387Perez Ruiz T, Martínez Lozano C, Tomas V (1991) Int J Environ Anal Chem 44(4):243–252Perez Ruiz T, Martínez Lozano C, Tomas V (1991) Anal Chim Acta 244(1):99–104Townshend A (1990) Analyst 115:495–500López Paz JL, Catalá Icardo M (2008) Anal Chim Acta 625:173–179Pawlicová Z, Sahuquillo I, Catalá Icardo M, García Mateo JV, Martínez Calatayud J (2006) Anal Sci 22:29–34Albert García JR, Catalá Icardo M, Martínez Calatayud J (2006) Talanta 69:608–614Tomlin CDS (1997) The pesticide manual, 11th edn.The British Crop Protection CouncilUKCatalá-Icardo M, Martínez-Calatayud J (2008) Crit Rev Anal Chem 38:118–130Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino. http://www.marm.es/ (accessed in September 2008)US Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/OGWWDW/contaminants (accessed in October 2008

Preclinical Evaluation of Caprylic Acid-Fractionated IgG Antivenom for the Treatment of Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) Envenoming in Papua New Guinea

articulo (arbitrado) -- Universidad de Costa Rica, Instituto de Investigaciones Clodomiro Picado, 2011Background: Snake bite is a common medical emergency in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The taipan, Oxyuranus scutellatus, inflicts a large number of bites that, in the absence of antivenom therapy, result in high mortality. Parenteral administration of antivenoms manufactured in Australia is the current treatment of choice for these envenomings. However, the price of these products is high and has increased over the last 25 years; consequently the country can no longer afford all the antivenom it needs. This situation prompted an international collaborative project aimed at generating a new, low-cost antivenom against O. scutellatus for PNG. Methodology/Principal Findings: A new monospecific equine whole IgG antivenom, obtained by caprylic acid fractionation of plasma, was prepared by immunising horses with the venom of O. scutellatus from PNG. This antivenom was compared with the currently used F(ab’)2 monospecific taipan antivenom manufactured by CSL Limited, Australia. The comparison included physicochemical properties and the preclinical assessment of the neutralisation of lethal neurotoxicity and the myotoxic, coagulant and phospholipase A2 activities of the venom of O. scutellatus from PNG. The F(ab’)2 antivenom had a higher protein concentration than whole IgG antivenom. Both antivenoms effectively neutralised, and had similar potency, against the lethal neurotoxic effect (both by intraperitoneal and intravenous routes of injection), myotoxicity, and phospholipase A2 activity of O. scutellatus venom. However, the whole IgG antivenom showed a higher potency than the F(ab’)2 antivenom in the neutralisation of the coagulant activity of O. scutellatus venom from PNG. Conclusions/Significance: The new whole IgG taipan antivenom described in this study compares favourably with the currently used F(ab’)2 antivenom, both in terms of physicochemical characteristics and neutralising potency. Therefore, it should be considered as a promising low-cost candidate for the treatment of envenomings by O. scutellatus in PNG, and is ready to be tested in clinical trials.This study was supported by Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Universidad de Costa Rica (project 741-A9-003); the PNG Office of Higher Education, CTP Limited (Milne Bay Estates), and the Australian Venom Research Unit (University of Melbourne), which is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, the Australia Pacific Science Foundation and Snowy Nominees. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP

Search for new phenomena in final states with an energetic jet and large missing transverse momentum in pp collisions at √ s = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Results of a search for new phenomena in final states with an energetic jet and large missing transverse momentum are reported. The search uses 20.3 fb−1 of √ s = 8 TeV data collected in 2012 with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Events are required to have at least one jet with pT > 120 GeV and no leptons. Nine signal regions are considered with increasing missing transverse momentum requirements between Emiss T > 150 GeV and Emiss T > 700 GeV. Good agreement is observed between the number of events in data and Standard Model expectations. The results are translated into exclusion limits on models with either large extra spatial dimensions, pair production of weakly interacting dark matter candidates, or production of very light gravitinos in a gauge-mediated supersymmetric model. In addition, limits on the production of an invisibly decaying Higgs-like boson leading to similar topologies in the final state are presente

Search for direct pair production of the top squark in all-hadronic final states in proton-proton collisions at s√=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The results of a search for direct pair production of the scalar partner to the top quark using an integrated luminosity of 20.1fb−1 of proton–proton collision data at √s = 8 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC are reported. The top squark is assumed to decay via t˜→tχ˜01 or t˜→ bχ˜±1 →bW(∗)χ˜01 , where χ˜01 (χ˜±1 ) denotes the lightest neutralino (chargino) in supersymmetric models. The search targets a fully-hadronic final state in events with four or more jets and large missing transverse momentum. No significant excess over the Standard Model background prediction is observed, and exclusion limits are reported in terms of the top squark and neutralino masses and as a function of the branching fraction of t˜ → tχ˜01 . For a branching fraction of 100%, top squark masses in the range 270–645 GeV are excluded for χ˜01 masses below 30 GeV. For a branching fraction of 50% to either t˜ → tχ˜01 or t˜ → bχ˜±1 , and assuming the χ˜±1 mass to be twice the χ˜01 mass, top squark masses in the range 250–550 GeV are excluded for χ˜01 masses below 60 GeV