a cross-sectional study

Objectives We sought to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Yoremes and to identify associations of T. gondii exposure with sociodemographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics of Yoremes. Design A cross-sectional survey. Setting Yoremes were enrolled in the locality of Tierra Blanca in the municipality of Navojoa in Sonora State, Mexico. Participants We studied 200 Yoremes (Mayos); they are an indigenous ethnic group living in a coastal region in northwestern Mexico. Primary and secondary outcome measures We assessed the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies in participants using enzyme-linked immunoassays. We used a standardised questionnaire to obtain the characteristics of Yoremes. The association of T. gondii exposure and Yoremes’ characteristics was assessed by bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results Of the 200 Yoremes studied (mean age: 31.50±18.43 years), 26 (13.0%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and 19 (73.1%) of them were also positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection did not vary with sex, educational level, occupation or socioeconomic status. In contrast, multivariate analysis of sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics showed that T. gondii exposure was associated with increasing age (OR=1.02; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.04; p=0.03) and consumption of squirrel meat (OR=4.99; 95% CI 1.07 to 23.31; p=0.04). Furthermore, seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was significantly higher in Yoremes with a history of lymphadenopathy (p=0.03) and those suffering from frequent abdominal pain (p=0.03). In women, T. gondii exposure was associated with a history of caesarean sections (p=0.03) and miscarriages (p=0.02). Conclusions We demonstrate, for the first time, serological evidence of T. gondii exposure among Yoremes in Mexico. Results suggest that infection with T. gondii might be affecting the health of Yoremes. Results may be useful for an optimal design of preventive measures against T. gondii infection

Off-label use of rituximab for systemic lupus erythematosus in Europe

Objectives: Rituximab (RTX) is a biological treatment used off-label in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This survey aimed to investigate the off-label use of RTX in Europe and compare the characteristics of patients receiving RTX with those receiving conventional therapy. Methods: Data on patients with SLE receiving RTX were taken from the International Registry for Biologics in SLE retrospective registry and complemented with data on patients with SLE treated with conventional therapy. For nationwide estimates of RTX use in patients with SLE, investigators were asked to provide data through case report forms (CRFs). Countries for which no data were submitted through CRFs, published literature and/or personal communication were used, and for European countries where no data were available, estimates were made on the assumption of similarities with neighbouring countries. Results: The estimated off-label use of RTX in Europe was 0.5%-1.5% of all patients with SLE. In comparison with patients with SLE on conventional therapy, patients treated with RTX had longer disease duration, higher disease activity and were more often treated with immunosuppressives. The most frequent organ manifestations for which either RTX or conventional therapy was initiated were lupus nephritis followed by musculoskeletal and haematological. The reason for treatment was, besides disease control, corticosteroid-sparing for patients treated with conventional therapy. Conclusions: RTX use for SLE in Europe is restrictive and appears to be used as a last resort in patients for whom other reasonable options have been exhausted

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Design of a potentially prebiotic and responsive encapsulation material for probiotic bacteria based on chitosan and sulfated beta-glucan

Hypothesis: Chitosan and sulfated oat beta-glucan are materials suitable to create a prebiotic coating for targeted delivery to gastrointestinal system, using the layer by layer technology. Experiment: Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to assess the multilayer formation capacity and characterize the resulting coatings in terms of morphology and material properties such as structure and rigidity. The coating of colloidal materials was proven, specifically on L acidophilus bacteria as measured by changes in the bacterial suspension zeta potential. Viability of coated cells was shown using plate counting method. The coatings on solid surfaces were examined after exposure to mimics of gastrointestinal fluids and a commercially available beta-glucanase. Findings: Successful build-up of multilayers was confirmed with QCM-D and SE. Zeta potential values proved the coating of cells. There was 2 log CFU/mL decrease after coating cells with four alternating layers of chitosan and sulfated p-glucan when compared to viability of uncoated cells. The coatings were partially degraded after exposure to simulated intestinal fluid and restructured as a result of beta-glucanase treatment, mimicking enzymes present in the microflora of the human gut, but seemed to resist acidic gastric conditions. Therefore, coatings of chitosan and sulfated beta-glucan can potentially be exploited as carriers for probiotics and delicate nutraceuticals. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Prototipo de máquina de medición por coordenadas (interface con usuario)

El presente trabajo muestra el desarrollo y resultados de un sistema de medición por coordenadas en dos dimensiones (prototipo MMC). Se definen los requerimientos básicos necesarios que debe incluir el sistema prototipo partiendo de una referencia conceptual realizada por alumnos del instituto. Para este prototipo actual se realizan las pruebas estadísticas y se hace una evaluación general del sistema como referencia y comparación para el nuevo sistema a desarrollar.Se analiza y definen los componentes que integraran la nueva máquina, el cual se compone por cuatro componentes básicos que complementan el sistema; incluyendo el sistema mecánico, sistema medidor, electrónica de control y el sistema de computación.La integración consiste en un sistema automatizado de motores de pasos de alta resolución (1.8ᵒ que equivalen a 200 pasos / vuelta) suficiente para la aplicación requerida, y se mantiene un control de la velocidad por medio de un controlador o “driver” de 3A y operación nominal de voltaje de 10-35V, para el sistema de visión se seleccionó una cámara a color de resolución media con interface a tarjeta de video del tipo “video compuesto”. Para la distribución de video se adapta un amplificador de RF de ganancia media, conectando sus salidas a la televisión, que servirá para realizar las mediciones, y al monitor mediante la interface. Este último ayudará para realizar los ajustes o calibraciones requeridas. Para la medición de coordenadas, se desarrolla una interface para el usuario que consiste en herramientas de ajuste y calibración e interface para controlar la velocidad de paso y selección de coordenadas (en X y en Y). También se presenta un Menú para la selección de Geometrías básicas de mediciones disponibles. Se define una metodología a seguir en el proceso de desarrollo del código que permitirá realizar algoritmos de cálculo de dimensión de geometrías, generar el control automatizado de motores e interface con el usuario. Finalmente se presenta un análisis estadístico que muestra la mejora en variación y funcional contra el equipo original. Se realiza un resumen de logros y se hacen algunas sugerencias

Instrumento virtual de acceso remoto para el osciloscopio Tektronix TBS 1072B-EDU

A fin de contribuir en la creación de un laboratorio virtual de acceso remoto que permita a los estudiantes y profesores realizar prácticas de laboratorio, medición y monitoreo de señales, se creó un instrumento virtual para el osciloscopio Tektronix TBS 1072B-EDU que se puede acceder en forma remota vía una página web. Para contribuir en las habilidades prácticas de los estudiantes al trabajar en los circuitos en un ambiente real vía online. Además de optimizar recursos como; equipo en el laboratorio, espacio en el edificio y tiempo de los estudiantes

Sistema de monitoreo de variables eléctricas V, I y P

En este trabajo se presenta un prototipo para un sistema de monitoreo de las variables eléctricas Voltaje, Corriente y Potencia. El prototipo tiene la capacidad de adquirir voltajes y corrientes en tiempo real y calcular la potencia de un sistema de generación de Corriente Alterna (CA). El prototipo presenta una interfaz de usuario realizada en LabVIEW la cual despliega los parámetros de monitoreo e información adicional requerida por el usuario. El prototipo propuesto cuenta con la capacidad de almacenar y graficar voltaje, corriente y potencia en intervalos programados por el mismo usuario

Severe, life-threatening phenotype of primary Sjögren's syndrome: Clinical characterisation and outcomes in 1580 patients (GEAS-SS Registry)

To analyse the clinical features and outcomes of patients presenting with life-threatening systemic disease in a large cohort of Spanish patients with primary Sjögren´s syndrome (SS).METHODS:The GEAS-SS multicentre registry was formed in 2005 with the aim of collecting a large series of Spanish patients with primary SS, and included more than 20 Spanish reference centres with substantial experience in the management of SS patients. By January 2018, the database included 1580 consecutive patients fulfilling the 2002 classification criteria for primary SS. Severe, life-threatening systemic disease was defined as an activity level scored as "high" in at least one ESSDAI domain.RESULTS:Among 1580 patients, 208 (13%) were classified as presenting a severe, potentially life-threatening systemic disease: 193 presented one ESSDAI domain classified as high, 14 presented two high scored domains and only one presented three high activity domains. The ESSDAI domains involved consisted of lymphadenopathy in 78 (37%) cases, CNS in 28 (13%), PNS in 25 (12%), pulmonary in 25 (12%), renal in 21 (10%), cutaneous in 19 (9%), articular in 18 (9%), haematological in 7 (3%) and muscular in 4 (2%). Patients with severe systemic disease were more frequently men (p=0.001) and had a higher frequency of anaemia (p<0.001), lymphopenia (p<0.001), rheumatoid factor (p=0.021), low C3 levels (p=0.015), low C4 levels (p<0.001) and cryoglobulins (p<0.001). From a therapeutic point of view, systemic patients received more frequently glucocorticoids (p<0.001), immunosuppressants (p<0.001), intravenous immunoglobulins (p=0.008) and rituximab (p<0.001). We found an overall mortality rate of 20% in severe systemic patients, a rate that reached to 33% in patients presenting two or more high systemic involvements; these patients had a higher frequency of low C4 levels (p=0.012) and cryoglobulins (p=0.001) in comparison with those with a single severe organ involved.CONCLUSIONS:13% of patients with primary SS develop a potentially life-threatening systemic disease (mainly lymphoma, but also severe internal organ involvements including nervous system, the lungs and the kidneys). This subset of patients requires intensive therapeutic management with a mortality rate of nearly 20% of cases.Fil: Chavez Flores, Alejandra Teresa. Hospital Clinic Barcelona; EspañaFil: Kostov, Belchin. Gesclinic. Centre d'Assistència Primària ABS; EspañaFil: Solans Laqué, Roser. Hospital Vall d'Hebron; EspañaFil: Fraile, Guadalupe. Hospital Ramón y Cajal. Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit; EspañaFil: Maure, Brenda. Complejo Hospitalario Universitario, Vigo; EspañaFil: Feijoo-Massó, Carlos. Hospital Parc Taulí. Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit; EspañaFil: Rascon, Francisco Javier. Hospital Son Espases. Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit; EspañaFil: Perez Alvarez, Roberto. Hospital Do Meixoeiro. Department of Internal Medicine; EspañaFil: Zamora, Mónica. Hospital Virgen de las Nieves; EspañaFil: García-Pérez, Alicia. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias; EspañaFil: Lopez-Dupla, Miguel. Hospital Joan XXIII; EspañaFil: Duarte Millán, Miguel Ángel. Hospital de Fuenlabrada; EspañaFil: Ripoll, Mar. Hospital Infanta Sofía; EspañaFil: Fonseca, Eva. Hospital de Cabueñes; EspañaFil: Guisado, Pablo. Complejo Hospitalario Ruber Juan Bravo. Department of Internal Medicine; EspañaFil: Pinilla,Blanca. Hospital Gregorio Marañón; EspañaFil: De la Red, Gloria. Hospital Esperit Sant Santa Coloma de Gramenet. Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit; EspañaFil: Chamorro, Antonio J.. Hospital Universitario de Salamanca. Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit; EspañaFil: Morcillo, César. Hospital CIMA-Sanitas. Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit; EspañaFil: Fanlo, Patricia. Hospital Virgen del Camino de Pamplona. Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit; EspañaFil: Soto-Cárdenas, María José. University of Cadiz. Department of Medicine; EspañaFil: Retamozo, Maria Soledad. Hospital Clinic. Department Of Autoimmune Diseases; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Ramos Casals, Manuel. Hospital Clinic. Department Of Autoimmune Diseases; Españ