Rapid on-chip apoptosis assay on human carcinoma cells based on annexin-V/quantum dot probes

Despite all the efforts made over years to study the cancer expression and the metastasis event, there is not a clear understanding of its origins and effective treatment. Therefore, more specialized and rapid techniques are required for studying cell behaviour under different drug-based treatments. Here we present a quantum dot signalling-based cell assay carried out in a segmental microfluidic device that allows studying the effect of anti-cancer drugs in cultured cell lines by monitoring phosphatidylserine translocation that occurs in early apoptosis. The developed platform combines the automatic generation of a drug gradient concentration, allowing exposure of cancer cells to different doses, and the immunolabeling of the apoptotic cells using quantum dot reporters. Thereby a complete cell-based assay for efficient drug screening is performed showing a clear correlation between drug dose and amount of cells undergoing apoptosis

Current status of bacterial spot of stone fruits and almond caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni in Spain

In 2002, typical symptoms of bacterial spot disease of stone fruits caused by Xanthomomas arboricola pv. pruni (Xap) were observed for the first time on Japanese plum in Badajoz (south-western Spain). During the following years, the pathogen was found in seven other eastern and northern Spanish provinces (Valencia, Alicante, Zaragoza, Huesca, Navarra, Lérida and Mallorca) affecting different cultivars of Japanese plum, nectarine, peach and almond. There are few previous reports of Xap on almond, the Spanish outbreaks constituting its first detection on this host in the European Union (EU). Identification of the pathogen was performed using biochemical tests, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) profiles, conventional and real-time PCR, and hypersensitivity reaction on tobacco leaves. Pathogenicity was demonstrated by inoculation of young potted plants of peach, plum or almond and successful re-isolations from plants with symptoms. In areas where infected plants were found, eradication programs were set up since Xap has a quarantine status according to phytosanitary EU legislation.Publishe

Towards on line monitoring the evolution of the myocardium infarction scar with an implantable electrical impedance spectrum monitoring system.

The human heart tissue has a limited capacity for regeneration. Tissue and cellular therapies based on the use of stem cells may be useful alternatives to limit the size of myocardial infarction. In this paper, the preliminary results from an experimental campaign for on-line monitoring of myocardium scar infarction are presented. This study has been carried out under a research project that has as main objective the development and application of a bioactive patch implant for regeneration of myocardial infarction. Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) has been chosen as a tissue state monitoring technique. What is presented in this communication is the first results of an implantable EIS measurement system which has been implanted in a subset of the animals corresponding to the control group, along one month. In all the animals, the myocardial infarction was induced by the ligation of the first circumflex marginal artery. In the animal group presented,the bioactive patch scaffold and the electrodes were implanted without the stem cells load. The scaffold is a piece of decellularized human pericardium, lyophilized and rehydrated with hydrogel RAD16-I. Nanogold particles were also placed near the electrodes to improve the electrode area conductivity. The results presented correspond to the subset of animals (n = 5), which had implanted the bioimpedance system monitoring the electrical impedance spectrum in vivo during 1 month. Two electrodes were connected to the bioactive patch implant. A total of 14 logarithmically spaced frequencies were measured every 5 minutes, from 100 Hz to 200 kHz. Results show a convergence of low-frequency and high frequency impedance magnitudes along the measurement period, which is coherent with the scar formation.Postprint (published version

Predicting the onset and persistence of episodes of depression in primary health care. The predictD-Spain study: Methodology

Background: The effects of putative risk factors on the onset and/or persistence of depression remain unclear. We aim to develop comprehensive models to predict the onset and persistence of episodes of depression in primary care. Here we explain the general methodology of the predictD-Spain study and evaluate the reliability of the questionnaires used. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study. A systematic random sample of general practice attendees aged 18 to 75 has been recruited in seven Spanish provinces. Depression is being measured with the CIDI at baseline, and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. A set of individual, environmental, genetic, professional and organizational risk factors are to be assessed at each follow-up point. In a separate reliability study, a proportional random sample of 401 participants completed the test-retest (251 researcher-administered and 150 self-administered) between October 2005 and February 2006. We have also checked 118,398 items for data entry from a random sample of 480 patients stratified by province. Results: All items and questionnaires had good test-retest reliability for both methods of administration, except for the use of recreational drugs over the previous six months. Cronbach's alphas were good and their factorial analyses coherent for the three scales evaluated (social support from family and friends, dissatisfaction with paid work, and dissatisfaction with unpaid work). There were 191 (0.16%) data entry errors. Conclusion: The items and questionnaires were reliable and data quality control was excellent. When we eventually obtain our risk index for the onset and persistence of depression, we will be able to determine the individual risk of each patient evaluated in primary health car

Nanoscale magnetic structure and properties of solution-derived self-assembled La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 islands

The following article appeared in Journal of Applied Physics 111.2 (2012): 024307 and may be found at http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/jap/111/2/10.1063/1.3677985Strain-induced self-assembled La0.7Sr0.3MnO 3 nanoislands of lateral size 50-150 nm and height 10-40 nm have been grown on yttria-stabilized zirconia (001)-substrates from ultradiluted chemical solutions based on metal propionates. The nanoislands grow highly relaxed withstanding the epitaxial relation (001)LSMO[110]//(001) Ysz[010] and show bulk-like average magnetic properties in terms of Curie temperature and saturation magnetization. The interplay of the magnetocrystalline and shape anisotropy within the nanoisland ensemble results in an in-plane magnetic anisotropy with a magnetocrystalline constant K 1(150K) = -(5±1) kJ/m3 and in-plane easy axis along the [110] -La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 direction as measured, for the first time, through ferromagnetic resonance experiments. Magnetic force microscopy studies reveal the correlation between nanoisland size and its magnetic domain structure in agreement with micromagnetic simulations. In particular, we have established the required geometric conditions for single domain, multidomain, and vortex configurations.We acknowledge the financial support from MEC (MAT2008-01022, Consolider NANOSELECT and FPU), Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (CAM S2009/MAT-1467), Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Pla de Recerca 2009-SGR- 770 and XaRMAE), and EU (NESPA). R. D. Zysler and C. A. Ramos acknowledge support from PIP-1333(2007) CONICET and PICT 829 (2006) and PICT 832(2006) ANPCyT of Argentina. Serveis Científic-Tècnics from Universitat de Barcelona and Servei de Micròscopia from Universitat Auto`noma de Barcelona are acknowledged for TEM facilities

Annexin-V/quantum dot probes for multimodal apoptosis monitoring in living cells : Improving bioanalysis using electrochemistry

There is a great demand to develop novel techniques that allow useful and complete monitoring of apoptosis, which is a key factor of several diseases and a target for drug development. Here, we present the use of a novel dual electrochemical/optical label for the detection and study of apoptosis. We combined the specificity of Annexin-V for phosphatidylserine, a phospholipid expressed in the outer membrane of apoptotic cells, with the optical and electrochemical properties of quantum dots to create a more efficient label. Using this conjugate we addressed three important issues: (i) we made the labeling of apoptotic cells faster (30 min) and easier; (ii) we fully characterized the samples by common cell biological techniques (confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometry); and (III) we developed a fast, cheap and quantitative electrochemical detection method for apoptotic cells with results in full agreement with those obtained by flow cytometry

Use of a personalised depression intervention in primary care to prevent anxiety: a secondary study of a cluster randomised trial

Background: In the predictD-intervention, GPs used a personalised biopsychosocial programme to prevent depression. This reduced the incidence of major depression by 21.0%, although the results were not statistically significant. Aim: To determine whether the predictD-intervention is effective at preventing anxiety in primary care patients without depression or anxiety. Design and setting: Secondary study of a cluster randomised trial with practices randomly assigned to either the predictD-intervention or usual care. This study was conducted in seven Spanish cities from October 2010 to July 2012. Method: In each city, 10 practices and two GPs per practice, as well as four to six patients every recruiting day, were randomly selected until there were 26–27 eligible patients for each GP. The endpoint was cumulative incidence of anxiety as measured by the PRIME-MD screening tool over 18 months. Results: A total of 3326 patients without depression and 140 GPs from 70 practices consented and were eligible to participate; 328 of these patients were removed because they had an anxiety syndrome at baseline. Of the 2998 valid patients, 2597 (86.6%) were evaluated at the end of the study. At 18 months, 10.4% (95% CI = 8.7% to 12.1%) of the patients in the predictD-intervention group developed anxiety compared with 13.1% (95% CI = 11.4% to 14.8%) in the usual-care group (absolute difference = −2.7% [95% CI = −5.1% to −0.3%]; P = 0.029). Conclusion: A personalised intervention delivered by GPs for the prevention of depression provided a modest but statistically significant reduction in the incidence of anxiety

Asistencia psiquiátrica ambulatoria en Seguridad Social.

Se ha realizado un estudio descriptivo referente a la atención médica especializada, por procesos psiquiátricos, en las consultas ambulatorias de Neuropsiquiatría de la Seguridad Social. Se analiza la morbilidad psiquiátrica diagnosticada en estas consultas en las provincias de Valencia y Alicante. Los resultados de las distintas entidades (C. I. E. Novena Revisión) se expresan para diferentes grupos de edad y sexo. Predominan los trastornos neuróticos y la depresión. La relación entre primera y segunda visita para las enfermedades psiquiátricas en atención especializada es de 0,58. Este índice se calcula para cada enfermedad específica. Este estudio también revela la proporción de diagnósticos por enfermedad psiquiátrica hallado por otros especialistas ambulatorios. Asimismo, se indica la proporción de pacientes remitidos desde asistencia primaria a la asistencia especializad

Asistencia psiquiátrica ambulatoria en Seguridad Social.

Se ha realizado un estudio descriptivo referente a la atención médica especializada, por procesos psiquiátricos, en las consultas ambulatorias de Neuropsiquiatría de la Seguridad Social. Se analiza la morbilidad psiquiátrica diagnosticada en estas consultas en las provincias de Valencia y Alicante. Los resultados de las distintas entidades (C. I. E. Novena Revisión) se expresan para diferentes grupos de edad y sexo. Predominan los trastornos neuróticos y la depresión. La relación entre primera y segunda visita para las enfermedades psiquiátricas en atención especializada es de 0,58. Este índice se calcula para cada enfermedad específica. Este estudio también revela la proporción de diagnósticos por enfermedad psiquiátrica hallado por otros especialistas ambulatorios. Asimismo, se indica la proporción de pacientes remitidos desde asistencia primaria a la asistencia especializad