Long-term influence of chitin concentration on the resistance of cement pastes determined by atomic force microscopy

The presence of sulfates potentialize damage on cementbased materials, leading to structural failures. Therefore, structures must be designed to compensate for this effect. The mechanical properties of cement–chitin mixtures are investigated with different percentages of chitin (0.5, 1.3, and 2.1 wt.%) and aging of composite in a joint nanoscopic- and macroscopic-scale by experimental study. The objective is to increase the durability of concrete elements at coastal aquifers where concrete structures are in constant exposure to sulfate ions, chloride ions among others. Tapping mode AFM was used to characterize the surface structure and roughness of the cement pastes. To verify the chitin addition and the formation of sulfate-based aggregates Raman and IR spectra were recorded and are presented in this work. Then, force spectroscopy was used to obtain the nanomechanical properties at three different exposure times (1 day, 6 months, and 1 year) into water or a SO4 2 environment. Macroscopic parameters (e.g., compression strength of cylindrical probes) were assessed for comparison following standard guidelines. The results show a decrease of its mechanical properties as a function of the polymer concentration but more importantly, they correlate the elasticity and adhesion at the nanoscale with the behavior of the bulk material

Preparación de ácido nítrico a partir del aire

Memoria ID-0131. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2015-2016

Biomechanical assessment of aerodynamic resistance in proffessional cyclists: methodological aspects

El objetivo de este estudio fue medir y comparar, a través de un túnel de viento, la resistencia aerodinámica (RA) en cinco ciclistas profesionales; y establecer modificaciones que mejoraran el rendimiento. Cinco ciclistas profesionales del equipo Kelme-Costa Blanca fueron objeto de estudio, cuatro en bicicleta aerodinámica y uno en bicicleta estándar. De nuestros resultados concluimos que estableciendo pequeñas modificaciones en los manillares, colocándolos en una posición más rentable, se puede reducir la R

Anti-proliferative effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field on preneoplastic lesions formation in the rat liver

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recently, extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) have been studied with great interest due to their possible effects on human health. In this study, we evaluated the effect of 4.5 mT - 120 Hz ELF-EMF on the development of preneoplastic lesions in experimental hepatocarcinogenesis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Male Fischer-344 rats were subjected to the modified resistant hepatocyte model and were exposed to 4.5 mT - 120 Hz ELF-EMF. The effects of the ELF-EMF on hepatocarcinogenesis, apoptosis, proliferation and cell cycle progression were evaluated by histochemical, TUNEL assay, caspase 3 levels, immunohistochemical and western blot analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The application of the ELF-EMF resulted in a decrease of more than 50% of the number and the area of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase-positive preneoplastic lesions (<it>P </it>= 0.01 and <it>P </it>= 0.03, respectively) and glutathione S-transferase placental expression (<it>P </it>= 0.01). The number of TUNEL-positive cells and the cleaved caspase 3 levels were unaffected; however, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Ki-67, and cyclin D1 expression decreased significantly (<it>P </it>≤ 0.03), as compared to the sham-exposure group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The application of 4.5 mT - 120 Hz ELF-EMF inhibits preneoplastic lesions chemically induced in the rat liver through the reduction of cell proliferation, without altering the apoptosis process.</p

Influencia de la postura y la utilización del casco en la resistencia aerodinámica del ciclista = The influence of posture and use of aerohelmet in cyclist´s aerodinamic resistance

P. 209-220La resistencia más importante que impide el avance de un ciclista en una contrarreloj individual (CRI) es la fuerza aerodinámica de arrastre ó FA (un 90% a 50Km/h) que puede minimizarse (2-15%) con la utilización de diferentes implementos permitidos por la U.C.I. (manillares, cascos, etc.). La única técnica directa para medir FA es el túnel de viento, siendo escasos los estudios referenciados, y siempre analizando a un solo corredor. En este trabajo se pretende estudiar la resistencia aerodinámica de tres ciclistas profesionales en el túnel de viento e introducir una serie de modificaciones en la postura y en el uso de materiales que permitan aumentar el rendimiento en competiciones CRI. Participaron 3 ciclistas del equipo Kelme-Costa Blanca competidores en el Tour-2001 y Vuelta-2001. Se utilizó un túnel de viento subsónico de circuito cerrado (ITER, Tenerife). Se estudiaron 4 posiciones sobre la bicicleta de CRI (1-Estática, 2- Dinámica a ritmo competición durante 10min, 3-Idem, con modifiaciones en el apoyo de antebrazos, 4-Idem, sin casco) y 1 sobre la de carretera (5- garrados de las manetas sin casco), calculándose FA y las medidas derivadas (FA/Kg, SCx y SCx/ Kg). Se minimizó FA al modificar el apoyo de antebrazos, pero no todos los ciclistas se vieron favorecidos por el uso del casco. FA fue mayor en las posiciones de pedaleo (2-3-4) que en la posición estática (1). Los valores de SCx para CRI (1-4) oscilaron entre 0.2368-0.3658m2 y para bicicleta de carretera entre 0.4284-0.5209m2 existiendo una serie de factores que dificultan su comparación con los obtenidos en otros estudios. En conclusión, las modificaciones en la posición posiblemente hallan incrementado su rendimiento en competiciones CRI, no así la utilización del casco. Para comparar valores de resistencia aerodinámica de diferentes ciclistas es necesario considerar algunas fuentes de error (técnica de medición, valores de FA y Scx relativizados, valoración estática o dinámica, etc.). El túnel de viento es la única técnica útil en la valoración de la resistencia aerodinámica para el incremento del rendimiento ciclista en competiciones CRI.S

Cancer-Stem-Cell Phenotype-Guided Discovery of a Microbiota-Inspired Synthetic Compound Targeting NPM1 for Leukemia

The human microbiota plays an important role in human health and disease, through the secretion of metabolites that regulate key biological functions. We propose that microbiota metabolites represent an unexplored chemical space of small drug-like molecules in the search of new hits for drug discovery. Here, we describe the generation of a set of complex chemotypes inspired on selected microbiota metabolites, which have been synthesized using asymmetric organocatalytic reactions. Following a primary screening in CSC models, we identified the novel compound UCM-13369 (4b) whose cytotoxicity was mediated by NPM1. This protein is one of the most frequent mutations of AML, and NPM1-mutated AML is recognized by the WHO as a distinct hematopoietic malignancy. UCM-13369 inhibits NPM1 expression, downregulates the pathway associated with mutant NPM1 C+, and specifically recognizes the C-end DNA-binding domain of NPM1 C+, avoiding the nucleus-cytoplasm translocation involved in the AML tumorological process. The new NPM1 inhibitor triggers apoptosis in AML cell lines and primary cells from AML patients and reduces tumor infiltration in a mouse model of AML with NPM1 C+ mutation. The disclosed phenotype-guided discovery of UCM-13369, a novel small molecule inspired on microbiota metabolites, confirms that CSC death induced by NPM1 inhibition represents a promising therapeutic opportunity for NPM1-mutated AML, a high-mortality disease.This work was supported by grants PID2022-138797OB-I00, PGC2018-096049-B-I00 and PID2021-126663NB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”; grant PID2019-106279RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; grant PDC2022-133488-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the “European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR”; grants PI21/00191 and CP19/00140 funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III; CNIO agreements 2017-2020, 2020-2023 funded by Foundation CRIS contra el Cancer; grants BIO-198 and P18-FR-3487 funded by Junta de Andalucía; VI PPIT program funded by Universidad de Sevilla; and by Ramón Areces Foundation. The authors acknowledge technological support from NMR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis CAIs (Complutense University of Madrid), Biointeractomicts Platform (cicCartuja, Seville), and the Services at CITIUS (University of Seville). S.A., A.S.-M., I.A.-A. and R.L.G.-A. are grateful to Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Complutense University of Madrid for predoctoral fellowships; M.V.-E. to European Union’s Horizon 2020 for Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant; and P.A.-G. to Fundación Española de Hematología y Hemoterapia for grant. The authors thank Dr. Adrián Velázquez-Campoy at the University of Saragossa for helping in fitting ITC analysis and Prof. Miguel A. De la Rosa at the University of Seville for critical reading of the manuscript.Peer reviewe

Actores de la cadena productiva que deben participar para prevenir el uso de clembuterol en la engorda del ganado bovino en México

El clembuterol, Químicamente se describe como polvo blanco, anhidro, muy soluble en agua y altamente estable a temperatura ambiente, su punto de fusión es de 174 a 175.5 ºC. También es un derivado sintético perteneciente a una clase de medicamentos análogos fisiológicamente a la adrenalina, tiene la capacidad de interactuar con receptores adrenérgicos,  generalmente  del  tipo  ß2    (β  agonista),  es  uno  de  los  modificadores metabólicos más conocido en el área de producción de carne, debido al alto grado residual que deja esta sustancia en los tejidos comestibles y sus posibles repercusiones en la salud pública. En este trabajo, se describen los principales actores de la cadena productiva en la engorda  de  ganado  que  deben  participar  para  prevenir  el  uso  de  clembuterol.  La información fue recopilada de información científicas y publicaciones de las autoridades competentes, tales como: SENASICA, SAGARPA, COFEPRIS y Ley Federal de Sanidad Animal

Multivalvular Endocarditis: A Rare Condition with Poor Prognosis.

Background. Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe condition. Our aim was to describe the profile and prognosis of patients with multivalvular infective endocarditis (MIE) and compare them to single-valve IE (SIE). Methods. We used a retrospective analysis of the Spanish IE Registry (2008−2020). Results. From 4064 definite cases of valvular IE, 577 (14.2%) had MIE. In patients with MIE, the most common locations were mitral (552, 95.7%) and aortic (550, 95.3%), with mitral-aortic involvement present in 507 patients (87.9%). The most common etiologies were S. viridans (192, 33.3%) and S. aureus (113, 19.6%). MIE involved only native valves in 450 patients (78.0%). Compared with patients with SIE, patients with MIE had a similar age (69 vs. 67 years, respectively, p = 0.27) and similar baseline characteristics, but were more frequently men (67.1% vs. 72.9%, p = 0.005) and had a higher incidence of intracardiac complications (36.2% vs. 50.4%, p < 0.001), heart failure (42.7% vs. 52.9%, p < 0.001), surgical indication (67.7 vs. 85.1%, p < 0.001), surgery (46.3% vs. 56.3%), and in-hospital mortality (26.9% vs. 34.3%, p < 0.001). MIE was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio (OR) 1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1−1.7, p = 0.004) but did not have an independent association with 1-year mortality (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.9−1.4, p = 0.43). Conclusions. About one-seventh of the valvular IE patients had MIE, mainly due to mitral-aortic involvement. MIE is associated with a poor in-hospital prognosis. An early diagnosis and treatment of IE might avoid its spread to a second valve

An Energy-Reduced Mediterranean Diet, Physical Activity, and Body Composition

[ENG]Importance Strategies targeting body composition may help prevent chronic diseases in persons with excess weight, but randomized clinical trials evaluating lifestyle interventions have rarely reported effects on directly quantified body composition. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of a lifestyle weight-loss intervention on changes in overall and regional body composition. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The ongoing Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea-Plus (PREDIMED-Plus) randomized clinical trial is designed to test the effect of the intervention on cardiovascular disease prevention after 8 years of follow-up. The trial is being conducted in 23 Spanish research centers and includes men and women (age 55-75 years) with body mass index between 27 and 40 and metabolic syndrome. The trial reported herein is an interim subgroup analysis of the intermediate outcome body composition after 3-year follow-up, and data analysis was conducted from February 1 to November 30, 2022. Of 6874 total PREDIMED-Plus participants, a subsample of 1521 individuals, coming from centers with access to a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry device, underwent body composition measurements at 3 time points. INTERVENTION Participants were randomly allocated to a multifactorial intervention based on an energy-reduced Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and increased physical activity (PA) or to a control group based on usual care, with advice to follow an ad libitum MedDiet, but no physical activity promotion. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The outcomes (continuous) were 3-year changes in total fat and lean mass (expressed as percentages of body mass) and visceral fat (in grams), tested using multivariable linear mixed-effects models. Clinical relevance of changes in body components (dichotomous) was assessed based on 5% or more improvements in baseline values, using logistic regression. Main analyses were performed in the evaluable population (completers only) and in sensitivity analyses, multiple imputation was performed to include data of participants lost to follow-up (intention-to-treat analyses). RESULTS A total of 1521 individuals were included (mean [SD] age, 65.3 [5.0] years; 52.1% men). In comparison with the control group (n=761), participants in the intervention arm (n=760) showed greater reductions in the percentage of total fat (between group differences after 1-year, −0.94% [95% CI, −1.19 to −0.69]; 3 years, −0.38% [95% CI, −0.64 to −0.12] and visceral fat storage after 1 year, -126 g [95% CI, −179 to −73.3 g]; 3 years, −70.4 g [95% CI, −126 to −15.2 g] and greater increases in the percentage of total lean mass at 1 year, 0.88% [95% CI, 0.63%-1.12%]; 3-years 0.34% [95%CI, 0.09%-0.60%]). The intervention group was more likely to show improvements of 5% or more in baseline body components (absolute risk reduction after 1 year, 13% for total fat mass, 11% for total lean mass, and 14% for visceral fat mass; after 3-years: 6% for total fat mass, 6% for total lean mass, and 8% for visceral fat mass). The number of participants needed to treat was between 12 and 17 to attain at least 1 individual with possibly clinically meaningful improvements in body composition. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The findings of this trial suggest a weight-loss lifestyle intervention based on an energy-reduced MedDiet and physical activity significantly reduced total and visceral fat and attenuated age-related losses of lean mass in older adults with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome. Continued follow-up is warranted to confirm the long-term consequences of these changes on cardiovascular clinical end points.S

Infective Endocarditis in Diabetic Patients: A Different Profile with Prognostic Consequences

Background. Infective Endocarditis (IE) is a severe condition. Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been associated with a poor prognosis in other settings. Our aim was to describe the profile and prognosis of IE with and without DM and to analyze the prognostic relevance of DM-related organ damage. Methods. Retrospective analysis of the Spanish IE Registry (2008–2020). Results. The cohort comprises 5590 IE patients with a mean age of 65.0 ± 15.5 years; 3764 (67.3%) were male. DM was found in 1625 patients (29.1%) and 515 presented DM-related organ damage. DM prevalence during the first half of the study period was 27.6% vs. 30.6% in the last half, p = 0.015. Patients with DM presented higher in-hospital mortality than those without DM (521 [32.1%] vs. 924 [23.3%], p < 0.001) and higher one-year mortality (640 [39.4%] vs. 1131 [28.5%], p < 0.001). Among DM patients, organ damage was associated with higher in-hospital (200 [38.8%] vs. 321 [28.9%], p < 0.001) and one-year mortality (247 [48.0%] vs. 393 [35.4%], p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed an independent association of DM with in-hospital (odds ratio [OR] = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–1.55, p < 0.001) and one-year mortality (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.21–1.59, p < 0.001). Among DM patients, organ damage was independently associated with higher in-hospital (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.06–1.76, p = 0.015) and one-year mortality (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.26–2.01, p < 0.001) Conclusions. The prevalence of DM among patients with IE is increasing and is already above 30%. DM is independently associated with a poor prognosis, particularly in the case of DM with organ damage