Unión de péptidos a superficies de titanio para la mejora de la osteointegración

El presente estudio pretende mejorar el proceso de osteointegración del implante de titanio mediante la biofuncionalización de su superficie. Para ello se ha realizado una previa silanización de la superficie y una posterior unión covalente entre el silano y un péptido el cual posee la secuencia RGD. Se han estudiado diferentes aspectos como es la estabilidad tanto de conjunto titanio-silano como silano-péptido. Finalmente se ha realizado un ensayo de adhesión celular utilizando células osteoblásticas MG63 cuyas muestras de titanio han sido previamente biofuncionalizadas con el proceso estudiado.This study aims to improve the osseointegration process of the titanium implant through surface biofunctionalization. Samples were silanised on the surface and afterwards a peptide with the RGD sequence was covalently attached to the silane. Specific characteristics of the stability of the union titanium-silane as well as silane-peptide were studied. Finally cell adhesion studies to samples biofunctionalized with the technique studied in this work were made with MG63 osteoblastic cells.Peer Reviewe

Water-ice driven activity on Main-Belt Comet P/2010 A2 (LINEAR) ?

The dust ejecta of Main-Belt Comet P/2010 A2 (LINEAR) have been observed with several telescopes at the at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos on La Palma, Spain. Application of an inverse dust tail Monte Carlo method to the images of the dust ejecta from the object indicates that a sustained, likely water-ice driven, activity over some eight months is the mechanism responsible for the formation of the observed tail. The total amount of dust released is estimated to be 5E7 kg, which represents about 0.3% of the nucleus mass. While the event could have been triggered by a collision, this cannot be decided from the currently available data.Comment: Accepted for ApJ Letter

Fungi Sensitization in Spain: Importance of the Alternaria alternata Species and Its Major Allergen Alt a 1 in the Allergenicity

Prevalence of allergy to fungi is around 3–10%. The most prevalent species involved in sensitizations are Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporium herbarum, and Penicillium notatum. Our main objective was to estimate the prevalence of fungal sensitization and its variation across Spain. Following the ICH-GCP, we recruited 1156 patients from 15 allergy departments in Spain. Hospitals were selected by bioclimatic areas. Patients underwent a skin prick test (SPT) with fungi, pollens, house dust mites, and animal dander. Specific IgE to Alternaria alternata and Alt a 1 was assessed in patients with positive SPT to fungi. Of the 233 patients (20.2%) sensitized to at least one of the five fungi tested, 162 (69.5%) were sensitized to Alternaria alternata and Alt a 1, of whom 113 (69.8%) were children; 181 (77.7%) were also polysensitized to other allergens. Alternaria alternata and Alt a 1 sensitization was present in 25.4% of patients in the Continental area, 12.0% in the Mediterranean area, 7.0% in the Semidesertic area, and 2.3% in the Oceanic area. Prevalence of sensitization to the other tested sources was 63.8% to pollens, 60.5% to house dust mite, and 38.1% to animal dander. We concluded that the prevalence of fungal allergy is increasing. Fungi are still the fourth source of allergen sensitization. Alternaria alternata sensitization is the most prevalent in allergic patients to fungi. Alt a 1 is present in almost 90% of the patients sensitized to Alternaria alternata.This research was funded by Diater laboratorios S.A