Use of microperimetry to evaluate hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine retinal toxicity

To check the ability of microperimetry to detect early retinal damage in patients with rheumatism taking hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), chloroquine (CQ), or both, and to describe the microperimetric alterations attributable to these drugs and their correlation with some clinical variables

Health recommender system design in the context of CAREGIVERSPRO-MMD project

CAREGIVERSPRO-MMD an EU H2020 funded project aims to build a digital platform focusing on people living with dementia and their caregivers, offering a selection of advanced, individually tailored services enabling them to live well in the community for as long as possible. This paper provides an outline of a health recommender system designed in the context of the project to provide tailored interventions to caregivers and people living with dementia.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Evaluation of different competitive immunoassays for aflatoxin M1 determination in milk samples by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Haptens (i.e. biomolecules which molecular weight is lower than 10 kDa) determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is usually performed by means of competitive immunoassays. In these immunoassays, analyte quantification is indirectly carried out using two different tracer species (i.e. antibodies or antigen-protein conjugates). However, the benefits (and drawbacks) derived from using a given tracer species have not been systematically investigated so far. The goal of this work is to evaluate the influence of the tracer species employed in competitive immunoassays on the analytical figures of merit for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) determination in milk samples. To this end, three different strategies have been developed and evaluated, namely: (i) antibody binding inhibition assay (ABIA); (ii) capture inhibition assay (CIA); and (iii) capture bridge inhibition assay (CBIA). Experimental results show that the use of the antibody as tracer species (as in the ABIA approach) affords better analytical figures of merit for AFM1 determination than using the antigen-protein conjugate as the tracer one (as in the CIA and CBIA strategies). The limit of detection afforded by ABIA strategy (i.e. 0.1 ng kg-1) for AFM1 determination was 1000-fold and 50-fold lower regarding the CIA and CBIA strategies, respectively. In the case of the ABIA approach, the characteristics of the metal nanoparticle label employed to detect the tracer species is critical on the analytical figures of merit. However, when the hapten-protein conjugates are used as tracer species, immunocomplex formation is severely hampered by steric effects caused by the protein moiety and, consequently, the characteristics of the metal nanoparticle label is not critical in the immunoassay performance. The different immunoassay strategies were successfully validated for AFM1 determination in milk samples using a certified reference material of whole milk powder (ERM-BD283) according to European Conformity guidelines for analytical methods of food contaminants and mycotoxins. Compared to ELISA, the immunoassay developed for AFM1 determination in milk samples improve limits of detection up to 10-fold.The authors would like to thank the Generalitat Valenciana (Project GV/2014/138) and the Vice-Presidency for Research and Knowledge Transfer of the University of Alicante – Spain for the financial support of this work (Project GRE12-19). E. Pérez also thanks the University of Alicante – Spain for the fellowship (UAFPU2011)

Preclinical Characterization of Antioxidant Quinolyl Nitrone QN23 as a New Candidate for the Treatment of Ischemic Stroke

Nitrones are encouraging drug candidates for the treatment of oxidative stress-driven diseases such as acute ischemic stroke (AIS). In a previous study, we found a promising quinolylnitrone, QN23, which exerted a neuroprotective effect in neuronal cell cultures subjected to oxygen–glucose deprivation and in experimental models of cerebral ischemia. In this paper, we update the biological and pharmacological characterization of QN23. We describe the suitability of intravenous administration of QN23 to induce neuroprotection in transitory four-vessel occlusion (4VO) and middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) experimental models of brain ischemia by assessing neuronal death, apoptosis induction, and infarct area, as well as neurofunctional outcomes. QN23 significantly decreased the neuronal death and apoptosis induced by the ischemic episode in a dose-dependent manner and showed a therapeutic effect when administered up to 3 h after post-ischemic reperfusion onset, effects that remained 11 weeks after the ischemic episode. In addition, QN23 significantly reduced infarct volume, thus recovering the motor function in a tMCAO model. Remarkably, we assessed the antioxidant activity of QN23 in vivo using dihydroethidium as a molecular probe for radical species. Finally, we describe QN23 pharmacokinetic parameters. All these results pointing to QN23 as an interesting and promising preclinical candidate for the treatment of AIS.This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-financed by the European Development Regional Fund (FEDER) through grants PI18/00255, RD16/0019/0006, and RD21/0006/0019 to J.M. and A.A., and RD16/0019/0008 and RD21/0006/0014 to J.B.S.; the MINECO grant SAF2015-65586-R to J.M.-C.; and the Comunidad de Madrid Neurocentro project B2017/BMD-3760 to D.G.-N

Determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk samples by means of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-based immunoassay

An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)-based immunoassay has been developed to quantify aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) at ultra-trace levels in milk samples. AFM1 detection is carried out by means of a competitive immunoassay using secondary biotinylated antibodies and streptavidin-conjugated Au nanoparticles. After acid addition, nanoparticles are decomposed and Au signal is registered by means of ICP-MS. Results demonstrate that, under optimum conditions, the limit of detection of the immunoassay (0.005 μg kg−1) is low enough to quantify AFM1 according to current international policies (including the more restrictive European one). Method accuracy and precision was checked by analyzing an AFM1 certified reference material and different milk samples spiked with known amounts of AFM1. AFM1 recovery values range from 80% to 102% whereas inter-assay and intra-assay precision are lower than 15%. Finally, this immunoassay methodology affords a higher dynamic working range (0.012–2.5 μg kg−1) than other immunoassay methodologies described in the literature.The authors would like to thank the Generalitat Valenciana (Project GV/2014/138) and the Vice-Presidency for Research of the University of Alicante – Spain (Project GRE12-19) for the financial support of this work. E. Pérez also thanks the University of Alicante – Spain for the fellowship (UAFPU2011)

Pla estratègic d’atenció geriàtrica especialitzada de Catalunya: bases del model de futur

Pla estratègic; Atenció geriàtrica; Atenció centrada en la personaPlan estratégico; Atención geriátrica; Atención centrada en la personaStrategic plan; Geriatric care; Attention focused on the personAquest Pla aborda la planificació estratègica de l’atenció a les persones grans per part dels equips i dispositius geriàtrics especialitzats (atenció geriàtrica especialitzada), mentre que de forma conjunta amb la direcció estratègica d’atenció primària serà necessari el replantejament de l’atenció a la gent gran de forma transversal, així com amb Salut Pública

Recent Progress and Next Steps for the MATHUSLA LLP Detector

We report on recent progress and next steps in the design of the proposed MATHUSLA Long Lived Particle (LLP) detector for the HL-LHC as part of the Snowmass 2021 process. Our understanding of backgrounds has greatly improved, aided by detailed simulation studies, and significant R&D has been performed on designing the scintillator detectors and understanding their performance. The collaboration is on track to complete a Technical Design Report, and there are many opportunities for interested new members to contribute towards the goal of designing and constructing MATHUSLA in time for HL-LHC collisions, which would increase the sensitivity to a large variety of highly motivated LLP signals by orders of magnitude.Comment: Contribution to Snowmass 2021 (EF09, EF10, IF6, IF9), 18 pages, 12 figures. v2: included additional endorser

Pla estratègic d'atenció geriàtrica i pal·liativa especialitzada de Catalunya: línies estratègiques, projectes i actuacions

Pla estratègic; Atenció pal·liativa; Atenció centrada en la personaPlan estratégico; Atención paliativa; Atención centrada en la personaStrategic plan; Palliative care; Person centered careAquest document conté les línies estratègiques, projectes i actuacions del Pla estratègic d'atenció geriàtrica i pal·liativa especialitzada de Catalunya