Corrosion Behavior of Titanium Dental Implants with Implantoplasty

The procedure generally used to remove bacterial biofilm adhering to the surface of titanium on dental implants is implantoplasty. This treatment is based on the machining of the titanium surface to remove bacterial plaque. In this study, we used 60 grade 4 titanium implants and performed the implantoplasty protocol. Using X-ray diffraction, we determined the stresses accumulated in each of the as-received, machined and debris implants. The resistance to corrosion in open circuit and potentiodynamically in physiological medium has been determined, and the corrosion potentials and intensities have been determined. Tests have been carried out to determine ion release by ICP-MS at different immersion times. The results show that the corrosion resistance and the release of titanium ions into the medium are related to the accumulated energy or the degree of deformation. The titanium debris exhibit compressive residual stresses of −202 MPa, the implant treated with implantoplasty −120 MPa, and as-received −77 MPa, with their corrosion behavior resulting in corrosion rates of 0.501, 0.77, and 0.444 mm/year, respectively. Debris is the material with the worst corrosion resistance and the one that releases the most titanium ions to the physiological medium (15.3 ppb after 21 days vs. 7 ppb for as-received samples). Pitting has been observed on the surface of the debris released into the physiological environment. This behavior should be taken into account by clinicians for the good long-term behavior of implants with implantoplasty

Sex-specific genetic effects associated with pigmentation, sensitivity to sunlight, and melanoma in a population of Spanish origin

Background Human pigmentation is a polygenic quantitative trait with high heritability. In addition to genetic factors, it has been shown that pigmentation can be modulated by oestrogens and androgens via up- or down-regulation of melanin synthesis. Our aim was to identify possible sex differences in pigmentation phenotype as well as in melanoma association in a melanoma case-control population of Spanish origin. Methods Five hundred and ninety-nine females (316 melanoma cases and 283 controls) and 458 males (234 melanoma cases and 224 controls) were analysed. We genotyped 363 polymorphisms (single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)) from 65 pigmentation gene regions. Results When samples were stratified by sex, we observed more SNPs associated with dark pigmentation and good sun tolerance in females than in males (107 versus 75; P = 2.32 × 10−6), who were instead associated with light pigmentation and poor sun tolerance. Furthermore, six SNPs in TYR, SILV/CDK2, GPR143, and F2RL1 showed strong differences in melanoma risk by sex (P < 0.01). Conclusions We demonstrate that these genetic variants are important for pigmentation as well as for melanoma risk, and also provide suggestive evidence for potential differences in genetic effects by sex.We thank the Madrid College of Lawyers and all patients from the different contributing Hospitals. We would like to thank Tais Moreno, M. Rosario Alonso, and Guillermo Pita for their expert technical assistance with Illumina genotyping, performed at the Spanish National Genotyping Centre (CeGen, Madrid). MI-V is funded by the “Ministry of Health Carlos III” under a Sara Borrell contract (CD15/00153). ML-C is funded by a Prometeo contract (2015/005). SSO is funded by the “ Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport” under a FPU fellowship (FPU13/04976). GR is funded by the “Ministry of Health Carlos III” under a Miquel Servet II contract (CPII14-00013). This work has also been partly funded by a research project from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CGL2014-58526-P), whose principal investigator is S

Loss of smell and taste can accurately predict COVID-19 infection: a machine-learning approach

The COVID-19 outbreak has spread extensively around the world. Loss of smell and taste have emerged as main predictors for COVID-19. The objective of our study is to develop a comprehensive machine learning (ML) modelling framework to assess the predictive value of smell and taste disorders, along with other symptoms, in COVID-19 infection. A multicenter case-control study was performed, in which suspected cases for COVID-19, who were tested by real-time reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), informed about the presence and severity of their symptoms using visual analog scales (VAS). ML algorithms were applied to the collected data to predict a COVID-19 diagnosis using a 50-fold cross-validation scheme by randomly splitting the patients in training (75%) and testing datasets (25%). A total of 777 patients were included. Loss of smell and taste were found to be the symptoms with higher odds ratios of 6.21 and 2.42 for COVID-19 positivity. The ML algorithms applied reached an average accuracy of 80%, a sensitivity of 82%, and a specificity of 78% when using VAS to predict a COVID-19 diagnosis. This study concludes that smell and taste disorders are accurate predictors, with ML algorithms constituting helpful tools for COVID-19 diagnostic prediction.Junta de Andalucí

Statins Inhibit HIV-1 Infection by Down-regulating Rho Activity

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infectivity requires actin-dependent clustering of host lipid raft–associated receptors, a process that might be linked to Rho guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) activation. Rho GTPase activity can be negatively regulated by statins, a family of drugs used to treat hypercholesterolemia in man. Statins mediate inhibition of Rho GTPases by impeding prenylation of small G proteins through blockade of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase. We show that statins decreased viral load and increased CD4+ cell counts in acute infection models and in chronically HIV-1–infected patients. Viral entry and exit was reduced in statin-treated cells, and inhibition was blocked by the addition of l-mevalonate or of geranylgeranylpyrophosphate, but not by cholesterol. Cell treatment with a geranylgeranyl transferase inhibitor, but not a farnesyl transferase inhibitor, specifically inhibited entry of HIV-1–pseudotyped viruses. Statins blocked Rho-A activation induced by HIV-1 binding to target cells, and expression of the dominant negative mutant RhoN19 inhibited HIV-1 envelope fusion with target cell membranes, reducing cell infection rates. We suggest that statins have direct anti–HIV-1 effects by targeting Rho

The Influence of Genetic and Environmental Factors among MDMA Users in Cognitive Performance

This study is aimed to clarify the association between MDMA cumulative use and cognitive dysfunction, and the potential role of candidate genetic polymorphisms in explaining individual differences in the cognitive effects of MDMA. Gene polymorphisms related to reduced serotonin function, poor competency of executive control and memory consolidation systems, and high enzymatic activity linked to bioactivation of MDMA to neurotoxic metabolites may contribute to explain variations in the cognitive impact of MDMA across regular users of this drug. Sixty ecstasy polydrug users, 110 cannabis users and 93 non-drug users were assessed using cognitive measures of Verbal Memory (California Verbal Learning Test, CVLT), Visual Memory (Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, ROCFT), Semantic Fluency, and Perceptual Attention (Symbol Digit Modalities Test, SDMT). Participants were also genotyped for polymorphisms within the 5HTT, 5HTR2A, COMT, CYP2D6, BDNF, and GRIN2B genes using polymerase chain reaction and TaqMan polymerase assays. Lifetime cumulative MDMA use was significantly associated with poorer performance on visuospatial memory and perceptual attention. Heavy MDMA users (>100 tablets lifetime use) interacted with candidate gene polymorphisms in explaining individual differences in cognitive performance between MDMA users and controls. MDMA users carrying COMT val/val and SERT s/s had poorer performance than paired controls on visuospatial attention and memory, and MDMA users with CYP2D6 ultra-rapid metabolizers performed worse than controls on semantic fluency. Both MDMA lifetime use and gene-related individual differences influence cognitive dysfunction in ecstasy users

Phenotypic characterization of X-linked hypophosphatemia in pediatric Spanish population

BACKGROUND: X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a hereditary rare disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in PHEX gene leading tohypophosphatemia and high renal loss of phosphate. Rickets and growth retardation are the major manifestations of XLH in children, but there is a broad phenotypic variability. Few publications have reported large series of patients. Current data on the clinical spectrum of the disease, the correlation with the underlying gene mutations, and the long-term outcome of patients on conventional treatment are needed, particularly because of the recent availability of new specific medications to treat XLH. RESULTS: The RenalTube database was used to retrospectively analyze 48 Spanish patients (15 men) from 39 different families, ranging from 3months to 8years and 2months of age at the time of diagnosis (median age of 2.0years), and with XLH confirmed by genetic analysis. Bone deformities, radiological signs of active rickets and growth retardation were the most common findings at diagnosis. Mean (±SEM) height was - 1.89±0.19 SDS and 55% (22/40) of patients had height SDS below-2. All cases had hypophosphatemia, serum phosphate being - 2.81±0.11 SDS. Clinical manifestations and severity of the disease were similar in both genders. No genotype-phenotype correlation was found. Conventional treatment did not attenuate growth retardation after a median follow up of 7.42years (IQR=11.26; n=26 patients) and failed to normalize serum concentrations of phosphate. Eleven patients had mild hyperparathyroidism and 8 patients nephrocalcinosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that growth retardation and rickets were the most prevalent clinical manifestations at diagnosis in a large series of Spanish pediatric patients with XLH confirmed by mutations in the PHEX gene. Traditional treatment with phosphate and vitamin D supplements did not improve height or corrected hypophosphatemia and was associated with a risk of hyperparathyroidism and nephrocalcinosis. The severity of the disease was similar in males and females

"Escape Seminar": Escápate del seminario

Las "escape room" son juegos de equipo para "escapar" de una sala o una sala virtual. Esta sala está llena de desafíos que se deben superar para ganar (escapar) dentro de un límite de tiempo determinado. Debido a que la enseñanza tradicional está causando problemas en torno a la motivación y el compromiso, y muchos estudiantes la perciben como ineficaz y aburrida, el uso de juegos educativos es muy prometedor porque son una herramienta de enseñanza para mejorar las habilidades no cognitivas, como la resolución de problemas y la colaboración. y comunicación. Los juegos tienen un notable poder motivador debido al uso de una serie de mecanismos que alientan a las personas a participar en ellos, a menudo sin ninguna recompensa, solo por la satisfacción de jugar y la posibilidad de ganar. En el curso 2019-2020, hemos desarrollado actividades basadas en el concepto de la "escape room" en las asignaturas: "Ciencia y Análisis de agua y bebidas" del Grado en Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos, "Química Analítica I" y "Físico-Química Farmacéutica" del Grado de Farmacia y “Química” del Grado en Óptica y Optometría de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Para el desarrollo del proyecto, todas las características y el progreso de las diferentes fases del seminario de la "escape room" se informaron en el primer día de clase y a través de la plataforma del Campus Virtual. Los estudiantes se agruparon (5-7 personas / grupo) y nombraron un portavoz que fue responsable de responder los retos de la actividad. Al final de esta acción, los estudiantes respondieron voluntariamente a las encuestas Likert para evaluar sus implicaciones y su percepción sobre su aprendizaje, trabajo en equipo y si les gustó la actividad propuesta

Científicas españolas: un mundo por descubrir

Objetivos: La Unión Europea sugiere, entre otros puntos, que la formación universitaria sea complementada con los avances que se vayan produciendo en la investigación científica y, además, pone un especial énfasis en la digitalización de contenidos y en la difusión a través de internet en la Educación Superior. Por ello, el objetivo del proyecto llevado a cabo fue realizar una actividad en la que los alumnos entrevistaran a una mujer científica española que trabajara en alguno de los temas estudiados en clases e ir creando un blog, vinculado a Facebook, con las entrevistas realizadas. De esta forma, además de dar visibilidad a las científicas de nuestro país, ya que en muchos casos la mujer está infravalorada por la sociedad en el ámbito científico, se pretendía conseguir la participación activa del alumnado y favorecer y fomentar su aprendizaje activo, desarrollar la capacidad del alumno de profundizar en un tema de investigación y de plantearse y de que tomaran conciencia del relevante nivel científico que existe en nuestro país y, en concreto, de la importancia que tienen las mujeres. Metodología: Se propuso la actividad a alumnos de 5 Grados diferentes (Farmacia, Doble Grado de Nutrición y Dietética, Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Terapia Ocupacional y Óptica y Optometría). Los alumnos interesados en participar formaron grupos de trabajo y eligieron el tema sobre el que querían trabajar del listado propuesto por los profesores. Buscaron una mujer científica española de reconocido prestigio que trabajara en el tema elegido y, después de comunicárselo al profesor, se pusieron en contacto con ella para solicitarles la realización de la entrevista. Una vez que esta accedía a su realización, los alumnos prepararon un dossier de preguntas basándose en los trabajos publicados de la misma, y, tras ser supervisado y corregido por el profesor, eran formuladas a la científica elegida. Una vez realizada la entrevista, los alumnos redactaron un artículo y tras su revisión por el profesor, se hacía público en el blog. Para dar mayor visibilidad al blog, se creó una cuenta abierta de Facebook en la que se iba vinculando el mismo. Al final de todo el proceso se realizó una valoración de la actividad global por parte de los alumnos mediante una encuesta de opinión tipo Likert. Resultados: Se ofertó la actividad a 581 alumnos y participaron 195 (33,6%). Con la actividad propuesta se ha conseguido la participación activa de un porcentaje considerable del alumnado, destacando en los Grados de CYTA (78,4%), Doble Grado de Farmacia y Nutrición (72,3%) y Farmacia (24,1%). Dentro de los que participaron en la actividad, el porcentaje de aprobados fue mayor que el de suspensos (78 vs. 22%; p<0,05, respectivamente). Por otra parte, la valoración otorgada a la actividad fue bastante buena (3,8 sobre 5 puntos), aunque muchos estudiantes manifestaron que les llevó bastante tiempo su realización. Por último, según los alumnos, la actividad les hizo tomar conciencia del alto nivel científico de muchas científicas españolas (4,5 puntos sobre 5)