Hypoxia in the Initiation and Progression of Neuroblastoma Tumours

Neuroblastoma is the most frequent extracranial solid tumour in children, causing 10% of all paediatric oncology deaths. It arises in the embryonic neural crest due to an uncontrolled behaviour of sympathetic nervous system progenitors, giving rise to heterogeneous tumours. Low local or systemic tissue oxygen concentration has emerged as a cellular stimulus with important consequences for tumour initiation, evolution and progression. In neuroblastoma, several evidences point towards a role of hypoxia in tumour initiation during development, tumour cell differentiation, survival and metastatic spreading. However, the heterogeneous nature of the disease, its developmental origin and the lack of suitable experimental models have complicated a clear understanding of the effect of hypoxia in neuroblastoma tumour progression and the molecular mechanisms implicated. In this review, we have compiled available evidences to try to shed light onto this important field. In particular, we explore the effect of hypoxia in neuroblastoma cell transformation and differentiation. We also discuss the experimental models available and the emerging alternatives to study this problem, and we present hypoxia-related therapeutic avenues being explored in the field.Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation SAF program (grant number SAF2016-80412-P

Generating Molecularly-Controlled Biomaterials Using Host-Guest Guided Peptide Amphiphile Self-Assembly

PhD ThesisSupramolecular chemistry offers a unique opportunity to assemble biomaterials with molecular precision. Though biomaterials based on self-assembling peptides often exhibit limited control over their hierarchical assembly, mechanical properties or biological relevance. This dissertation addresses these challenges by bringing together the scopes of peptide self-assembly and hostguest interactions. The thesis opens with a literature revision chapter on supramolecular biomaterials and multicomponent self-assembly as a strategy to design complex biomedically relevant hydrogels. The following three experimental chapters constitute examples of biomedically relevant peptide amphiphile (PA)-based hydrogels based on the co-assembly of peptides bearing host-guest recognition motifs. Firstly, a report on a new family of supramolecular hydrogels based on the non-covalent crosslinking between PAs bearing either h-Cyclodextrin (hCD) or Adamantane (Ada) host-guest cues is presented. The resulting hydrogels exhibit enhanced mechanical properties, including stiffness and resistance to degradation, while retaining good in vitro biocompatibility. The next chapter explores on the non-covalent tethering of biologically relevant epitopes to self-assembled PA nanofibers through hCD/Ada complexations as a modular approach for developing more complex and dynamic PA hydrogels. Incorporating host-guest peptide pairs endowed control from nano to macroscale in the materials, as well as its mechanical control, biological tunability and the possibility to imprint them higher levels of dynamic spatiotemporal properties. Lastly, the use of another host-guest interaction family based on the ternary complexation of aromatic amino acid-bearing PAs and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) is presented. An unreported non-ionic gelation mechanism is presented as well as the structural and mechanical comparison of the PA-CB[8] gels versus conventional ionically-gelled PAs. Altogether, this work presents new approaches to develop more controlled and functional peptide-based nanomaterials with broad implications in the self-assembling and bioengineering communities.

¿QUÉ PIENSAN LOS MAESTROS EXTREMEÑOS SOBRE LOS DEBERES?

This paper examines teachers 'ideas about homework in Extremadura. Seven hundred and fifty jive teachers participate in this study. To analyse these beliefs a questionnaire was used, this questionnaire was developed considering previous research in this topic.Este trabajo se dedica al estudio de las ideas y creencias que tienen los maestros extremeños sobre los deberes. Para el análisis de las estas creencias se ha utilizado un cuestionario que se ha elaborado teniendo en cuenta las investigaciones previas sobre el tópico de investigación. En el estudio han participado setecientos cincuenta y cinco profesores.

Control and Simplicity in the Nanoprocessing of Semiconducting Copper-Iodine Double Chain Coordination Polymers

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Inorganic Chemistry © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.8b00364Two coordination polymers (CPs), based on Cu(I)-I double zig-zag chains bearing isonicotinic acid or 3-chloroisonicotinic acid as terminal ligands with molecular recognition capabilities, have been synthesized and fully characterized. Both compounds present extended networks with supramolecular interactions directed by the formation of H-bonds between the complementary carboxylic groups, giving supramolecular sheets. The chloro substituent allows establishing additional Cl···Cl supramolecular interactions that reinforce the stability of the supramolecular sheets. These CPs are semiconductor materials; however, the presence of chlorine produces slight changes in the I-Cu-I chains, generating a worse overlap in the Cu-I orbitals, thus determining a decrease in its electrical conductivity value. These experimental results have also been corroborated by theoretical calculations using the study of the morphology of the density of states and 3D orbital isodensities, which determine that conductivity is mostly produced through the Cu-I skeleton and is less efficient in the case of the chloro derivative compound. A fast and efficient bottom-up approach based on the self-assembly of the initial building blocks and the low solutibility of these CPs has proved very useful for the production of nanostructuresWe thank the Spanish MINECO (projects MAT2016-75883-C2-2-P, CTQ2017-87201-P, and fellowship BES-2015-071534) and the Generalitat Valenciana (PrometeoII/2014/076 project) for financial suppor

Caracterización clínica del dengue en un hospital infantil de Cartagena, Colombia

Objetivo: Caracterizar las manifestaciones clínicas del dengue en pacientes pediátricos en una institución de salud de tercer nivel de Cartagena (Colombia). Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo por revisión de historias clínicas de pacientes hospitalizados por dengue en el Hospital Infantil Napoleón Franco Pareja de la ciudad de Cartagena, Colombia. Se evaluaron 136 niños con cuadros febriles agudos de etiología inaparente. Se utilizaron pruebas serológicas para confirmar la infección por el virus del dengue. Resultados: Se analizaron 98 casos de niños hospitalizados con diagnóstico de dengue. La edad osciló entre menores de 6 meses a 16 años, siendo el rango de edades con mayor frecuencia de la enfermedad de 10 a 16 años (33,7%). Los signos y síntomas más frecuentes fueron: exantema (49,0%), mialgia (35,7%), cefalea (33,7%), artralgia (33,7%), anorexia (24,5%), torniquete (19,4%), prurito (11,2%), escalofrío (8,2%), eritema facial (7,1%) y dolor retro ocular (6,1%). Conclusiones: La edad continúa siendo el factor predominante en la gravedad intrahospitalaria del dengue. Por lo tanto se necesitan con urgencia medidas preventivas en la población pediátrica

Antifungal activity of cotton fabrics finished modified silica-silver- carbon-based hybrid nanoparticles

In this work, the one-pot sol-gel synthesis of novel siliceous matrixes doped with carbon from spent batteries is reported. The obtained solids with silver nitrate were characterized by their antifungal activity against Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp. and Chaetomium globosum, three well-known cellulolytic microorganisms responsible for the deterioration of cotton fabric. In this research it was possible to develop a methodology for the impregnation of cotton fabrics (brin type) and to evaluate the antifungal efficacy. Cotton fabric containing the highest amount of carbon showed the highest antifungal activity against C. globosum and Aspergillus sp. This may be because as the amount of carbon in the silica increases, there is an increase in the surface area that facilitates an effective distribution of the active phase to act, inhibiting the fungal growth.Fil: Igal, Katerine. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas "Dr. Jorge J. Ronco". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Arreche, Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas "Dr. Jorge J. Ronco". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Sambeth, Jorge Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas "Dr. Jorge J. Ronco". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Bellotti, Natalia. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Tecnología de Pinturas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones en Tecnología de Pinturas; ArgentinaFil: Vega Baudrit, José. Laboratorio Nacional de Nanotecnología; Costa RicaFil: Redondo Gómez, Carlos. Laboratorio Nacional de Nanotecnología; Costa RicaFil: Vazquez, Patricia Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas "Dr. Jorge J. Ronco". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas; Argentin

Novel synthetic routes of large-pore magnetic mesoporous nanocomposites (SBA-15/Fe3O4) as potential multifunctional theranostic nanodevices

In this paper, novel magnetic silica nanocomposites were prepared by anchoring magnetite nanoparticles onto the outer surface of mesoporous SBA-15 silica; the magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by microemulsion and solvothermal methods, varying the synthesis conditions in order to control the final physicochemical, textural and magnetic properties. The morphology and mesostructure of the materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), N2 adsorption–desorption, and Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy (TEM and SEM). Magnetic silica nanocomposites feature a two-dimensional hexagonal arrangement constituted by a homogeneous pore channel system with diameters between 13 and 18 nm and a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area higher than 260 m2 g−1. The different morphologies of the samples are given by the presence of diverse magnetic nanoparticle arrangements covalently linked onto the outer surface of the mesoporous silica rods. This confers on them a superparamagnetic behaviour with a magnetic response between 50–80 emu g−1, even though the weight percent of magnetite present in the samples does not exceed 21.7%. In addition, the magnetic nanocomposites exhibit magnetic hyperthermia with moderate Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) valuesThis work was supported in part by MINECO (Spain) and FEDER Funds (projects MAT 2015-67458-P and CTQ2016-79461-R); and the European Commission (PANA project, Call H2020-NMP-2015-two-stage, Grant 686009; and the MADIA project, Call H2020-ICT-2016-1, Grant 732678)S

Anesthesia in a patient with hereditary angioedema

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disease caused by an autosomal dominant mutation that results in an alteration of the gene encoding the activated C1 esterase inhibitor protein (C1-INH), causing deficiency or dysfunction of C1-INH. It is characterized by recurrent and self-limited episodes with transient symptoms of swelling without urticaria of subcutaneous tissues, extremities, intestinal wall, genitalia and upper respiratory tract. Involvement of the larynx and glottis may result in death by asphyxia. The perioperative managment is reported of a patient with HAE and a long history of allergies in which the main considerations are related to the prevention of an acute crisis during the perioperative period. This required a preparation with fresh frozen plasma and tranexamic acid days before surgery, which was continued postoperatively, in addition to careful management during the anesthetic procedure

La estación de radiación solar e iluminación de alta calidad del IDMP en Madrid y su aplicación a la edificación

En este trabajo se presenta un estudio de la actividad investigadora que se ha realizado hasta el momento en la estación de radiación solar e iluminación de alta calidad del International Daylight Measurement Program (IDMP) en Madrid ubicada en la E. T. S. de Arquitectura de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (40º 25’ N, 3º 41’ W). Esta estación ha centrado su investigación fundamental en dos temas: luminancias y eficacias luminosas de la radiación solar (global, difusa y directa) para todo tipo de cielos, todo ello desde un punto de vista físico, cuyos trabajos y resultados se exponen con detalle. La finalidad de este estudio es poder aplicar los resultados obtenidos a la Edificación, tanto en edificios ya existentes como de nueva construcción, para obtener un máximo confort visual a partir de la iluminación natural, con el consiguiente ahorro energétic

Influence of exercise in the body image of preadolescents and adolescents: importance of the body mass index as a factor of confusion

Introducción: los adolescentes son el grupo más vulnerable frente a las distorsiones en la percepción de la imagen. Ello les conduce frecuentemente a una insatisfacción corporal que puede afectar negativamente a su autoestima. La práctica de actividad física (AF) podría ayudar a solventar este problema. Objetivos: analizar la influencia que la cantidad de AF realizada tiene sobre la autopercepción de la imagen corporal en población pre y adolescente, teniendo en cuenta factores de confusión que pudieran afectar a esta relación. Métodos: estudio transversal con 822 participantes de entre 9 y 16 años. Se determinó la prevalencia de AF, su índice de masa corporal (IMC) y su condición física (CF) objetiva y percibida. Se empleó el pictograma de Stunkard para determinar el grado de insatisfacción corporal. Resultados: se determinó que existe una satisfacción generalizada con la propia imagen corporal con independencia de la edad y el sexo. Se encontraron asociaciones significativas de baja magnitud entre la imagen corporal percibida y la cantidad de AF, la CF percibida y la CF objetiva. La AF no influyó en la satisfacción corporal cuando se ajustó en base al IMC, que fue la variable que presentó correlaciones más elevadas con la autopercepción (r = 0,713) y la propia satisfacción (r = 0,576). Conclusiones: se determinó que existe una satisfacción generalizada con la propia imagen corporal en la población pre y adolescente objeto de estudio. La cantidad de AF no se mostró como una variable de gran influencia sobre la autopercepción y la satisfacción corporal, al contrario que el IMC.Introduction: adolescents are the group most vulnerable to distortions in the perception of their image. This often leads to body dissatisfaction that can negatively affect their self-esteem. The practice of physical activity (PA) could help solve this problem. Objectives: to analyze the influence that the amount of PA performed has on the self-perception of body image in the pre and adolescent population while taking into account confounding factors that could affect this relationship. Methods: a cross-sectional study of 822 participants aged 9 to 16 years was conducted. The prevalence of PA, their body mass index (BMI), and their objective and perceived physical condition (PC) were determined. The Stunkard pictogram was used to determine the degree of body dissatisfaction. Results: a generalized satisfaction with own body image was found regardless of age and sex. Low-magnitude significant associations were found between perceived body image and the amount of PA, perceived PC, and objective PC. PA did not influence body satisfaction when adjusted for BMI, which was the variable that presented the highest correlations with self-perception (r = 0.713) and self-satisfaction (r = 0.576). Conclusions: a generalized satisfaction with one’s own body image was identified in the pre and adolescent population under study. The amount of PA was not shown to be a variable with great influence on self-perception and body satisfaction, contrary to BMI