Nanocrystalline glass-like carbon thin films may be an useful tool in nerve cells regeneration

Abstract en el libro de Abstract de la International Conference, p. 99The interest in carbon nanomaterials with high transparency and electrical conductivity has grown within the last decade in view of a wide variety of applications, including biocompatible sensors, diagnostic devices and bioelectronic implants. The aim of this work is to test the biocompatibility of particular nanometer-thin nanocrystalline glass-like carbon films (NGLC), a disordered structure of graphene flakes joined by carbon matrixUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. We thank Prof. Arenas, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, for SN4741 cell line. R.G.V. gratefully acknowledges Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for funding through a Ramon y Cajal fellowship

Outcome of protease inhibitor substitution with nevirapine in HIV-1 infected children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Protease inhibitors (PIs) have been associated with metabolic complications. There is a trend to switch to simpler therapy to improve these disturbances. We report a case-series describing the effects in metabolic abnormalities in seven HIV-infected children, previously treated with protease inhibitor (PI) after switching to nevirapine.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Seven children with stable PI-containing regimen and a long lasting HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/ml were switched to nevirapine. All patients were naïve to non nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. PIs were switched to nevirapine. Preentry nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors were maintained. The substitution of PIs with nevirapine was made when the patient showed hyperlipidemia or lipodystrophy or the physician and/or the patient's willingness to simplify. Clinical, laboratory data and anthropometric parameters were assessed every 3 months. Dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry scans (DXA) was performed at baseline and at 12 months.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seven HIV-infected children were enrolled. Median age: 130 months (99,177). Median baseline CD4%: 32%. All had HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/ml. Median length of preentry PI-therapy was 47 months (28, 91). Median age at the beginning of nevirapine was 120 months (99,177). Median decrease in cholesterol in 7.2 mmol/L was observed (P = 0.09), from baseline to 12 months. HDL-cholesterol increased in 5.1 mmol/L (P = 0.03) throughout the study period. No significant changes were observed in DXA with regard to body fat, but changes in total body bone mineral content and lean body content were significant. CD4% remained stable. All patients but one maintained viral load < 50 copies/ml at 12 months. The patient with virologic failure referred bad adherence. Children referred to take medication more easily.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>PI substitution with nevirapine improved lipid profile in our patients, although this strategy did not show significant changes in body fat or lipodystrophy.</p

Non-valvular atrial fibrillation in CKD : role of vitamin K antagonists and direct oral anticoagulants. A narrative review

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in chronic kidney disease (CKD), with a close bidirectional relationship between the two entities. The presence of CKD in AF increases the risk of thromboembolic events, mortality and bleeding. Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) have been the mainstay of treatment for the prevention of thromboembolic events in AF until recently, with confirmed benefits in AF patients with stage 3 CKD. However, the risk-benefit profile of VKA in patients with AF and stages 4-5 CKD is controversial due to the lack of evidence from randomized controlled trials. Treatment with VKA in CKD patients has been associated with conditions such as poorer anticoagulation quality, increased risk of bleeding, faster progression of vascular/valvular calcification and higher risk of calciphylaxis. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have shown equal or greater efficacy in stroke/systemic embolism prevention, and a better safety profile than VKA in post-hoc analysis of the pivotal randomized controlled trials in patients with non-valvular AF and stage 3 CKD, yet evidence of its risk-benefit profile in more advanced stages of CKD is scarce. Observational studies associate DOACs with a good safety/effectiveness profile compared to VKA in non-dialysis CKD patients. Further, DOACs have been associated with a lower risk of acute kidney injury and CKD development/progression than VKA. This narrative review summarizes the evidence of the efficacy and safety of warfarin and DOACs in patients with AF at different CKD stages, as well as their effects on renal function, vascular/valvular calcification and bone health

Risk Assessment on Irrigation of Vitis vinifera L. cv Malbec with Hg Contaminated Waters

Concerns regard watering crops with Hg contaminated waters have arisen worldwide recently. In these sense Hg uptake by Vitis vinifera L. cv. Malbec was evaluated under greenhouse conditions by the administration of Hg2+ for 4 days through irrigation water (short-term administration). Vines uptake Hg translocating it from roots through stems to leaves. Roots accumulated the higher Hg concentration. Hg in stems and leaves was accumulated mostly as organic Hg, bind to different moieties. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and ion pair chromatography (IPC) were employed to reach insights into these ligands. Hg is distributed mainly in high molecular weight fractions of 669 kDa in vine plants. In stems and leaves, Hg-S associations were found in 669 and 66 kDa fractions. Hg-S association at 66 kDa suggests a possible protein or peptide binding affecting vines normal physiology. Since Hg contamination through organomercurials is more harmful than Hg2+ itself, methyl mercury, dimethyl mercury, and phenyl mercury, more toxic Hg species were evaluated with negative results.Fil: Spisso, Adrián Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Pacheco, Pablo Hugo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Química de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Química de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Federico Jose Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Silva, Maria Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Luis Dante. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Química de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Química de San Luis; Argentin

Una nueva alerta mundial en salud causada por la viruela del simio

Introduction: Monkeypox is a zoonosis of viral etiology caused by the Monkeypox virus, it is an endemic disease in African countries. Outside this area, the first cases were reported in 2003 in the USA. In May 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned about the increase in the number of cases of monkeypox in non-endemic areas such as countries of Europe and North America, setting off international alarms in the face of the spread of the disease.  Objective: To review the literature on monkeypox with special emphasis on virological and epidemiological aspects, transmission mechanism, clinical manifestations, and treatment expectations.  Methods: A review of articles in Spanish and English using terms such as monkeypox, monkeypox, and monkeypox. Using search engines like PubMed, Medline, and ScienceDirect. It was complemented with web pages of recognized institutions because it was necessary to monitor the new cases that are registered worldwide and that are not published due to the speed of appearance and the short period of time.  Results: The epidemiology, etiology, clinical manifestations, complications, isolation, and treatment possibilities of monkeypox. Conclusions: Monkeypox is an inexact substitute for variola virus smallpox. Early clinical features of the disease and patients not vaccinated against the variola virus are factors associated with poor outcomes. Management strategies and protective measures are key to preventing the spread of the disease.  Introducción: La viruela del simio es una zoonosis de etiología viral causada por virus de la viruela del simio. Es una enfermedad endémica en los países africanos. En mayo de 2022 la Organización Mundial De La Salud (OMS) alertó sobre el aumento del número de casos en zonas no endémicas como países de Europa y norte América. Causando una alerta internacionals ante una posible propagación de la enfermedad. Objetivo: Hacer una revisión de la literatura sobre la viruela del simio realizando especial énfasis en aspectos virológicos, epidemiológicos, mecanismo de transmisión, manifestaciones clínicas y expectativas de tratamiento. Métodos: Se hizo una revisión de artículos en español e inglés, usando términos como: viruela del simio, viruela del mono y Monkeypox. Usando motores de búsqueda como PubMed, Medline y ScienceDirect. Se complementó con páginas web de instituciones reconocidas debido a que fue necesario hacer un seguimiento a los nuevos casos que se registran a nivel mundial y que no se alcanzan a publicarse por la rapidez de propagación y el corto periodo de tiempo. Resultados: Se describe la Epidemiología, etiología, manifestaciones clínicas, complicaciones, aislamiento y posibilidades de tratamiento de la viruela del simio. Conclusiones: La viruela del simio es un sustituto inexacto de la viruela por virus Variola, las características clínicas tempranas de la enfermedad y pacientes no vacunados contra virus Variola son factores asociados a malos resultados. Las estrategias de manejo y medidas de protección son clave para evitar la propagación de la enfermedad.

Graphene derivative scaffolds facilitate in vitro cell survival and maturation of dopaminergic SN4741 cells

The emerging carbon nanomaterial Graphene (G), in the form of scaffold structure, has an efficient bioconjugation with common biomolecules and activates cell differentiation of neuronal stem cells, providing a promising approach for neural regeneration. We propose the use of G as a scaffold to re-address the dopaminergic (DA) neurons and the residual axons from dead or apoptotic DA neurons in Parkinson´s disease (PD). G could act as a physical support to promote the axonal sprout as a “deceleration” support for the DA cells derived from neural stem cells or DA direct cell conversion, allowing the propagation of nerve impulses. We cultured a clonal substantia nigra (SN) DA neuronal progenitor cell line (SN4741) in presence of G as scaffold. This cell line derived from mouse embryos was cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium/10% FCS to about 80% confluence. Cells were incubated in three chemically different G derivatives and two different presentation matrixes as powder and films: 1) G oxide (GO); 2) partially reduced GO (PRGO) which is hydrophobic; and 3) fully reduced GO (FRGO). Cell viability was determined using the MTT assay after adding the following G concentrations: 1mg/ml; 0.1mg/ml; 0.05mg/ml; 0.02mg/ml and 0.01mg/ml, in each type of GO. To study cellular morphology and assessment of cell engraftment into GO films (GO film, PRGO film, FRGO film), we analyzed the immunostaining of the anti-rabbit neuron-specific DNA-binding protein (NeuN) antibody, the anti-rat Beta-3-tubulin antibody in combination with the mitochondrial marker mouse anti-ATP synthase antibody, and the anti-rabbit DCX as immature neuronal marker. Hoechst label was used as nuclei marker. Reactive oxidative species (ROS) were measured by flow cytometry to study the influence of G on the cell redox-state. With this purpose, cells were loaded with dihydroethidium. The mitochondrial membrane potential after JC-1 incubation was studied by flow cytometry. Our results show an increase of survival and metabolism (30-40%) at low concentrations of PRGO and FRGO (0.05-0.01 mg/ml) respect to the higher concentration (1 mg/ml), while no changes were seen in the GO group. LDH concentration was measured in the supernatant using a COBAS analyzer showing a neuroprotective action at low concentrations. Furthermore, either PRGO film or FRGO film show an increase in the effective anchorage capacity to nest into the G matrix and in the maturation of the SN 4741 cells. We conclude that the use of G scaffolds in the research of neurological diseases like PD could offer a powerful platform for neural stem cells, direct cell conversion techniques and neural tissue engineering.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Norwegian Research Council (grant nº 215086

Flexibility markets to procure system services. CoordiNet project

The article describes the objectives of the CoordiNet project, the proposed coordination schemes and architecture to allow TSOs and DSOs to procure systems services in a coordinated manner, and the platforms being developed in the three demonstrators of the project (Spain, Sweden, Greece).The efficiency and reliability of electricity systems depend, among other aspects, on an efficient collaboration between the different market participants, which require updating the roles of all agents involved. The CoordiNet project, co-funded by the EU, intends to demonstrate how TSOs and DSOs can act in a coordinated manner, to purchase and activate system services, promote the cooperation of all actors and eliminate barriers for the active participation of DERs in the market. The results of the project will help to design scalable tools and methodologies for system operators and third parties to safely connect, manage and coordinate flexibility providers. This paper describes the developments in CoordiNet to ensure the interoperability of the different markets and platforms developed by TSOs and DSOs across Europe.European Commissions' H2020 under grant agreement No 824414

Effects of petrosaspongiolide M, a novel phospholipase A2 inhibitor, on acute and chronic inflammation

ABSTRACT The marine product petrosaspongiolide M is a novel inhibitor of phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ), showing selectivity for secretory PLA 2 versus cytosolic PLA 2 , with a potency on the human synovial enzyme (group II) similar to that of manoalide. This compound was more potent than manoalide on bee venom PLA 2 (group III) and had no effect on group I enzymes (Naja naja and porcine pancreatic PLA 2 ). Inhibition of PLA 2 was also observed in vivo in the zymosan-injected rat air pouch, on the secretory enzyme accumulated in the pouch exudate. Petrosaspongiolide M decreased carrageenan paw edema in mice after the oral administration of 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg. This marine metabolite (0.01-1.0 mol/pouch) induced a dose-dependent reduction in the levels of prostaglandin (PG)E 2 , leukotriene B 4 , and tumor necrosis factor-␣ in the mouse air pouch injected with zymosan 4 h after the stimulus. It also had a weaker effect on cell migration. The inflammatory response of adjuvant arthritis was reduced by petrosaspongiolide M, which also inhibited leukotriene B 4 levels in serum and PGE 2 levels in paw homogenates. In contrast with indomethacin, this marine compound did not reduce PGE 2 levels in stomach homogenates. Petrosaspongiolide M is a new inhibitor of secretory PLA 2 in vitro and in vivo, with anti-inflammatory properties in acute and chronic inflammation