Investigations on Epoxy-Carbamate Foams Modified with Different Flame Retardants for High-Performance Applications

In transport sectors such as aviation, automotive and railway, materials combining a high lightweight potential with high flame retardant properties are in demand. Polymeric foams are suitable materials as they are lightweight, but often have high flammability. This study focuses on the influence of different flame retardants on the burning behavior of Novolac based epoxy foams using Isophorone Diamine carbamate (B-IPDA) as dual functional curing and blowing agent. The flame retardant properties and possible modifications of these foams are systematically investigated. Multiple flame retardants, representing different flame retardant mechanisms, are used and the effects on the burning behavior as well as mechanical and thermal properties are evaluated. Ammonium polyphosphate (APP), used with a filler degree of 20 wt.% or higher, functions as the best performing flame retardant in this study

Micellar Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Coated with Anti-Tumor Glycosides

The synthesis procedure of nanoparticles based on thermal degradation produces organic solvent dispersible iron oxide nanoparticles (OA-IONP) with oleic acid coating and unique physicochemical properties of the core. Some glycosides with hydrophilic sugar moieties bound to oleyl hydrophobic chains have antimitotic activity on cancer cells but reduced in vivo applications because of the intrinsic low solubility in physiological media, and are prone to enzymatic hydrolysis. In this manuscript, we have synthetized and characterized OA-IONP-based micelles encapsulated within amphiphilic bioactive glycosides. The glycoside-coated IONP micelles were tested as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agents as well as antimitotics on rat glioma (C6) and human lung carcinoma (A549) cell lines. Micelle antimitotic activity was compared with the activity of the corresponding free glycosides. In general, all OA-IONP-based micellar formulations of these glycosides maintained their anti-tumor effects, and, in one case, showed an unusual therapeutic improvement. Finally, the micelles presented optimal relaxometric properties for their use as T2-weighed MRI contrast agents. Our results suggest that these bioactive hydrophilic nano-formulations are theranostic agents with synergistic properties obtained from two entities, which separately are not ready for in vivo applications, and strengthen the possibility of using biomolecules as both a coating for OA-IONP micellar stabilization and as drugs for therapy.This research was funded by FP7 Marie Curie Pulmonary imaging network (PINET) and Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad MAT2015-65184-C2-2-R; SAF2016-79593-P; SAF2017-84494-C2-1-R). This work was partially funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (DTS16/00059), CNIC (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares), and Comunidad de Madrid (B2017-BMD3731 and B2017-BMD3875). We thank Ligue contre le cancer, comite Charentes Maritimes which allows to free up some time to complete the redaction of this manuscript during a grant-not dedicated on this work-agreed to LIENSs, UMR CNRS 7266, La Rochelle.S

Un nuevo camino en la Atención Farmacéutica: la idoneidad de la Evaluación Clínica Objetiva Estructurada

Introduction: Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) is a novel and best-performing tool in the evaluation of clinical competencies. Its use in Pharmacy represents an opportunity to innovate and improve the teaching-learning process. Method: The implementation process was structured in two stages: 1) Preparation phase, which included the theoretical design and practical planning of the OSCE test with three key components (Organizing Committee, Map of Competencies and Table of Specifications and Selection of Cases and Design of Stations) and the practical planning with the assembly of the test; 2) Phase of execution and evaluation of results. Results: The pilot study was carried out at the School of Pharmacy (University of Granada, Spain) in the 2018-2019 academic year, and 33 undergraduate students and 14 Master students participated. Five competencies were evaluated: Clinical, Technical, Pharmaceutical Services, Communication and Educational activities, delivered in five stations, three with simulated standardized patients and two written stations. Material, human and economic resources were identified. The necessary material, human and economic resources were identified, the documents for each station were prepared and the participants were selected and trained. Conclusions: OSCE is a suitable and great tool for evaluating the specific competencies of Pharmaceutical Care. The procedure and key elements identified facilitate the implementation of this type of innovative tests in Pharmacy.Introducción: la Evaluación Clínica Objetiva Estructurada (ECOE) es una de las herramientas más novedosas y con mejores resultados en la evaluación de competencias clínicas. Su uso en Farmacia constituye una oportunidad para innovar y mejorar el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Método: el proceso de implementación se estructuró en dos etapas: 1) Fase de preparación, que incluyó el diseño teórico de la prueba ECOE con tres componentes clave (Comité Organizador, Mapa de Competencias y Tabla de Especificaciones y Selección de Casos y Diseño de Estaciones) y la planificación práctica con el montaje de la prueba; 2) Fase de ejecución y evaluación de resultados. Resultados: el estudio piloto se desarrolló en la Facultad de Farmacia de la Universidad de Granada, España en el curso 2018-2019, y participaron 33 estudiantes de AF de Grado y 14 estudiantes de Máster en AF. Se evaluaron cinco competencias: Clínica, Técnica, Servicios Farmacéuticos Asistenciales, Comunicación y Actividades Educativas, distribuidas en cinco estaciones, tres de paciente simulado estandarizado y dos estaciones escritas. Se identificaron los recursos materiales, humanos y económicos necesarios, se elaboraron los documentos de cada estación y se seleccionaron y entrenaron los participantes. Conclusiones: la prueba ECOE es una herramienta útil e idónea para evaluar las competencias específicas de Atención Farmacéutica. El procedimiento descrito y los elementos clave identificados facilitan la implantación de este tipo de pruebas innovadoras en Farmacia

Emotional Processing Profile in Patients with First Episode Schizophrenia:The Influence of Neurocognition

This study sought to investigate the influence of neurocognition on the emotional processing profiles of patients with first-episode schizophrenia, using the 4-branch Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) (Perceiving Emotions; Facilitating Emotions; Understanding Emotions and Managing Emotions). A sample of 78 patients with first-episode schizophrenia and a group of 90 non-psychiatric control subjects were included in this work. The initial results showed that patients had lower scores than controls for the "Understanding Emotions" and "Managing Emotions" MSCEIT branches. However, after controlling for neurocognition, the only deficits were found on the "Managing Emotions" branch of the MSCEIT. This branch can be considered as measuring a more sophisticated level of emotional processing, which may constitute a deficit in itself. In conclusion, patients with first-episode schizophrenia present deficits in social cognition at the highest level that seem to be independent from neurocognition. These findings support the inclusion of the "Managing Emotions" branch of the MSCEIT as part of the MCCB.Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI16/00359)Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI19/00766)Comunidad de Madrid (S2017/BMD-3740)Ministry of Health (MOH-000013)4.242 JCR (2020) Q1, 39/167 Medicine, general & internal1.040 SJR (2021) Q1, 438/2489 Medicine (miscellaneous)No data IDR 2020UE

A new patient with deletion of 10p and revision of the literature. Study of the genotype-phenotype correlation

Citogenética y Genética MolecularSince the first report by Elliott et al., in 1970, of a patient with partial deletion of the short arm of chromosome 10 (10p), at least 67 further cases have been reported, of which 44 were pure de novo deletions. Two syndromes have been associated with deletions of 10p: DiGeorge 2 syndrome (DGS2) and HDR (Hypothyroidism, sensorineural Deafness and Renal disease). DGS2 (so-named due to its similitude to DiGeorge syndrome) is characterised by congenital heart defects, dysmorphism, hypoplastic thymus with T-cell deficiency, and hypoparathyroidism with hypocalcemia. In 1984, Herve et al. published the first case that associated a deletion of 10p with a clinical picture of DiGeorge, and a critical region, of approximately 1 Mb, in 10p13-p14 was delineated in 1998 by Schuffenhauer et al. On the other hand, HDR syndrome was first described in 1977 by Barakat et al., and in 1997 the syndrome was associated with a deletion of 10p. The observation that such deletions in patients with HDR were outside the DGS2 critical region led to the discovery of a causal gene, GATA3 located in 10p14, which has an important role in embryonic development of the kidney, parathyroids and auditory system. Here we present a patient with a 10p deletion that includes both the DGS2 critical region and GATA3 gene. The propositus’ clinical picture includes facial dysmorphism, unilateral ptosis, unilateral renal agenesis and hypoacusia. We carried out a revision of the literature, as well as a comparative analysis of the clinical characteristics and the cytoband affected, with the aim of correlating the main manifestations with the region of 10p deleted. The results have shown an overlap of clinical features as well as a great variability of manifestations among patients with different 10p deletions. No correlation could be established between the deleted genes and clinical manifestations, thus suggesting the involvement of more complex molecular mechanisms.N

Clinical and ultrasound thyroid nodule characteristics and their association with cytological and histopathological outcomes: A retrospective multicenter study in high-resolution thyroid nodule clinics

Introduction: Thyroid nodules are a common finding. A high-resolution thyroid nodule clinic (HR-TNC) condenses all tests required for the evaluation of thyroid nodules into a single appointment. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes at HR-TNCs. Design and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional multicenter study including data from four HR-TNCs in Spain. We evaluated fine-needle aspiration (FNA) indications and the association between clinical and ultrasound characteristics with cytological and histopathological outcomes. Results: A total of 2809 thyroid nodules were included; FNA was performed in 82.1%. Thyroid nodules that underwent FNA were more likely larger, isoechoic, with microcalcifications, and in younger subjects. The rate of nondiagnostic FNA was 4.3%. A solid component, irregular margins or microcalcifications, significantly increased the odds of Bethesda IV-V-VI (vs. Bethesda II). Irregular margins and a solid component were independently associated with increased odds of malignancy. Thyroid nodules <20 mm and ≥20–<40 mm had a 6.5-fold and 3.3-fold increased risk for malignancy respectively in comparison with those ≥40 mm. Conclusion: In this large multicenter study, we found that the presence of a solid component and irregular margins are factors independently related to malignancy in thyroid nodules. Since nodule size ≥40 mm was associated with the lowest odds of malignancy, this cut-off should not be a factor leading to indicate thyroid surgery. HR-TNCs were associated with a low rate of nondiagnostic FNA

Estudio bioedafológico preliminar de la isla gorgona

Los suelos de la Isla Gorgona son Inceptisoles con buena a baja saturación de bases (Eutropepts y Dystropepts respectivamente), con tendencia a ser ácidos y buena capacidad de intercambio catiónico. Domina en ellos la textura arcillosa: el contenido de materia orgánica es alto en los horizontes O y A, razón por la cual predominan, en la fauna edáfica las formas de hábitos fitófagos y saprófagos. Los más representativos de la fauna internadel suelo (0 a 40 ern) son Insecta y Annelida e Insecta y Aracnida en la faunasuperficial

Migration, Agribusiness and Nutritional Status of Children under Five in Northwest Mexico

The aim of this study was to examine the nutritional status of children of Mexican migrant worker families under five years of age within the context of global food markets. The sample included 404 children less than five years old from farms and agricultural communities in northwest Mexico. Prevalence of stunting and underweight of children appeared very similar to that of indigenous children from the national sample survey (difference 0.9 and 1.6 percentage points, respectively). Compared to the national sample of Mexican children, stunting and underweight seemed higher in migrant children (difference 17.7 and 4.5 percentage points, respectively), but wasting, an indicator of both chronic and acute undernutrition, appeared to indicate a process of nutritional recuperation. Migrant children living in poverty and suffering from chronic undernutrition, poor performance and scarce education opportunities, can be expected to eventually become agricultural workers with low productivity and poor general health. Consumer’s demands on social and environmental standards of fresh food production in developed countries could be an opportunity to impact the lives of migrant agricultural workers, their families and communities

Comprehensive analysis and insights gained from long-term experience of the Spanish DILI Registry

Background & aims: Prospective drug-induced liver injury (DILI) registries are important sources of information on idiosyncratic DILI. We aimed to present a comprehensive analysis of 843 patients with DILI enrolled into the Spanish DILI Registry over a 20-year time period. Methods: Cases were identified, diagnosed and followed prospectively. Clinical features, drug information and outcome data were collected. Results: A total of 843 patients, with a mean age of 54 years (48% females), were enrolled up to 2018. Hepatocellular injury was associated with younger age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] per year 0.983; 95% CI 0.974-0.991) and lower platelet count (aOR per unit 0.996; 95% CI 0.994-0.998). Anti-infectives were the most common causative drug class (40%). Liver-related mortality was more frequent in patients with hepatocellular damage aged ≥65 years (p = 0.0083) and in patients with underlying liver disease (p = 0.0221). Independent predictors of liver-related death/transplantation included nR-based hepatocellular injury, female sex, higher onset aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and bilirubin values. nR-based hepatocellular injury was not associated with 6-month overall mortality, for which comorbidity burden played a more important role. The prognostic capacity of Hy's law varied between causative agents. Empirical therapy (corticosteroids, ursodeoxycholic acid and MARS) was prescribed to 20% of patients. Drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis patients (26 cases) were mainly females (62%) with hepatocellular damage (92%), who more frequently received immunosuppressive therapy (58%).The present study has been supported by grants of Instituto de Salud Carlos III cofounded by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional – FEDER (contract numbers: PI19/00883, PI16/01748, PI18/00901, PI18/01804, PI-0285-2016, PI-0274-2016, PI-0310- 2018, PT17/0017/0020) and Agencia Española del Medicamento. CIBERehd and Plataforma ISCIII Ensayos Clinicos are funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III. MRD holds a Joan Rodes (JR16/ 00015)/Acción B clinicos investigadores (B-0002-2019) and JSC a Rio Hortega (CM17/00243) research contract from ISCIII and Consejería de Salud de Andalucía. The funding sources had no involvement in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report or in the de- cision to submit the manuscript for publication