1,720 research outputs found
Synthesis, characterization, bioactivity and biocompatibility of nanostructured materials based on the wollastonite-poly(ethylmethacrylate-co-vinylpyrrolidone) system
Composite materials are very promising biomaterials
for hard tissue augmentation. The approach assayed
in this work involves the manufacturing of a composite
made of a bioactive ceramic, natural wollastonite (W) and a
nanostructured copolymer of ethylmethacrylate (EMA) and
vinylpyrrolidone (VP) to yield a bioresorbable and biocompatible
VP–EMA copolymer. A bulk polymerization was
induced thermally at 508C, using 1 wt % azobis(isobutyronitrile)
(AIBN) as free-radical initiator. Structural characterization,
compressive strength, flexural strength (FS), degradation,
bioactivity, and biocompatibility were evaluated in
specimens with a 60/40 VP/EMA ratio and ceramic content
in the range 0–60%. A good integration between phases
was achieved. Greater compression and FS, in comparison
with the pure copolymer specimens was obtained only
when the ceramic load got up to 60% of the total weight.
The soaking in NaCl solution resulted in the initial swelling
of the specimens tested. The maximum swelling was
reached after 2–3 h of immersion and it was significantly
greater for lower ceramic loads. This result makes the polymer
component the main responsible for the interactions
with the media. After soaking in SBF, microdomains segregation
can be observed in the polymer component that can
be related with a dramatic difference in the reactivity of
both monomers in free radical polymerization, whereas the
formation of an apatite-like layer on the W surfaces can be
observed. Biocompatibility in vitro studies showed the absence
of cytotoxicity of all formulations. The cells were able
to adhere on the polystyrene negative control and on specimens
containing 60 wt % wollastonite forming a monolayer
and showing a normal morphology. However, a low cellular
growth was observed. 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
J Biomed Mater Res 88A: 53–64, 2009Peer reviewe
On the use of compressed sensing techniques for improving multistatic millimeter-wave portal-based personnel screening
This work develops compressed sensing techniques to improve the performance of an active three dimensional (3D) millimeter wave imaging system for personnel security screening. The system is able to produce a high-resolution 3D reconstruction of the whole human body surface and reveal concealed objects under clothing. Innovative multistatic millimeter wave radar designs and algorithms, which have been previously validated, are combined to improve the reconstruction results over previous approaches. Compressed Sensing techniques are used to drastically reduce the number of sensors, thus simplifying the system design and fabrication. Representative simulation results showing good performance of the proposed system are provided and supported by several sample measurement
Reproductive long-term effects, endocrine response and fatty acid profile of rabbit does fed diets supplemented with n-3 fatty acids
The
effect
of
a
diet
enriched
with
polyunsaturated
n
-3
fatty
acids
(PUFA)
on
endocrine,
reproductive,
and
productive
responses
of
rabbit
females
and
the
litters
has
been
studied.
Nulliparous
does
(
n
=
125)
were
fed
ad
libitum
from
rearing
to
second
weaning
two
diets
supplemented
with
different
fat
sources:
7.5
g/kg
lard
for
the
control
diet
(group
C;
n
=
63)
or
15
g/kg
of
a
commercial
supplement
containing
a
50%
ether
extract
and
35%
of
total
fatty
acids
(FAs)
as
PUFA
n
-3
(Group
P;
n
=
62).
Dietary
treatments
did
not
affect
apparent
digestibility
coefficients
of
nutrients,
or
reproductive
variables
of
does
including
milk
pro-
duction,
mortality
and
average
daily
gain
of
kits
over
two
lactations.
However,
on
Day
5
and
7
post-induction
of
ovulation,
progesterone
of
Group
P
tended
to
increase
to
a
greater
extent
than
in
does
of
Group
C.
Total
PUFAs,
n
-6
and
n
-3
and
eicosapentanoic
(EPA)
contents
were
greater
in
adipose
tissues
of
does
in
Group
P
than
in
Group
C.
Docosapentaenoic
acid
(DPA),
EPA,
and
docosahexaenoic
acid
(DHA)
concentrations
were
greater
in
peri-ovarian
than
in
scapular
fat
with
abdominal
fat
being
intermediate
in
concentration.
In
PUFA
sup-
plemented
does,
kit
mortality
at
the
second
parturition
tended
to
be
less
than
in
control
does.
Also,
kits
born
to
does
of
the
PUFA-supplemented
group
weighed
more
and
were
of
greater
length
than
from
does
of
control
group.
In
conclusion,
effectiveness
of
dietary
intervention
on
reproductive
and
performance
response
is
greater
in
the
second
parity,
which
suggests
an
accumulative
long-term
beneficial
effect
of
n
-3
FA
supplementation
in
reproductive
rabbit
doe
Effects of feed restriction during pregnancy on maternal reproductive outcome, foetal hepatic IGF gene expression and offspring performance in the rabbit
Primiparous female rabbits have high nutritional requirements and, while it is recommended that they are subjected to an extensive reproductive rhythm, this could lead to overweight, affecting reproductive outcomes. We hypothesised that restricting food intake during the less energetic period of gestation could improve reproductive outcome without impairing offspring viability. This study compares two groups of primiparous rabbit does in an extensive reproductive programme, one in which feed was restricted from Day 0 to Day 21 of gestation (R021), and another in which does were fed ad libitum (control) throughout pregnancy. The mother and offspring variables compared were (1) mother reproductive outcomes at the time points pre-implantation (Day 3 postartificial insemination [AI]), preterm (Day 28 post-AI) and birth; and (2) the prenatal offspring characteristic IGF system gene expression in foetal liver, liver fibrosis and foetus sex ratio, and postnatal factor viability and growth at birth, and survival and growth until weaning. Feed restriction did not affect the conception rate, embryo survival, or the number of morulae and blastocysts recovered at Day 3 post-AI. Preterm placenta size and efficiency were similar in the two groups. However, both implantation rate (P < 0.001) and the number of foetuses (P = 0.05) were higher in the R021 mothers than controls, while there was no difference in foetal viability. Foetal size and weight, the weights of most organs, organ weight/BW ratios and sex ratio were unaffected by feed restriction; these variables were only affected by uterine position (P < 0.05). Conversely, in the R021 does, foetal liver IGBP1 and IGF2 gene expression were dysregulated despite no liver fibrosis and a normal liver structure. No effects of restricted feed intake were produced on maternal fertility, prolificacy, or offspring birth weight, but control females weaned more kits. Litter weight and mortality rate during the lactation period were also unaffected. In conclusion, pre-implantation events and foetal development were unaffected by feed restriction. While some genes of the foetal hepatic IGF system were dysregulated during pregnancy, liver morphology appeared normal, and the growth of foetuses and kits until weaning was unmodified. This strategy of feed restriction in extensive reproductive rhythms seems to have no significant adverse effects on dam reproductive outcome or offspring growth and viability until weaning
Transactive Response DNA-Binding Protein (TARDBP/TDP-43) Regulates Cell Permissivity to HIV-1 Infection by Acting on HDAC6
The transactive response DNA-binding protein (TARDBP/TDP-43) influences the processing of diverse transcripts, including that of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6). Here, we assessed TDP-43 activity in terms of regulating CD4+ T-cell permissivity to HIV-1 infection. We observed that overexpression of wt-TDP-43 increased both mRNA and protein levels of HDAC6, resulting in impaired HIV-1 infection independently of the viral envelope glycoprotein complex (Env) tropism. Consistently, using an HIV-1 Env-mediated cell-to-cell fusion model, the overexpression of TDP-43 levels negatively affected viral Env fusion capacity. Silencing of endogenous TDP-43 significantly decreased HDAC6 levels and increased the fusogenic and infection activities of the HIV-1 Env. Using pseudovirus bearing primary viral Envs from HIV-1 individuals, overexpression of wt-TDP-43 strongly reduced the infection activity of Envs from viremic non-progressors (VNP) and rapid progressors (RP) patients down to the levels of the inefficient HIV-1 Envs observed in long-term non-progressor elite controllers (LTNP-EC). On the contrary, silencing endogenous TDP-43 significantly favored the infectivity of primary Envs from VNP and RP individuals, and notably increased the infection of those from LTNP-EC. Taken together, our results indicate that TDP-43 shapes cell permissivity to HIV-1 infection, affecting viral Env fusion and infection capacities by altering the HDAC6 levels and associated tubulin-deacetylase anti-HIV-1 activity.This work is supported by the Spanish AIDS network “Red Temática Cooperativa de Investigación en SIDA” RD12/0017/0002, RD12/0017/0028, RD12/0017/0034, RD16/0025/0011, RDCIII16/0002/0005 and RD16/0025/0041 as part of the Plan Nacional R + D+I and co-funded by the Spanish “Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)-Subdirección General de Evaluación y el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)”. J.B. is a researcher from “Fundació Institut de Recerca en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol” supported by the Health Department of the Catalonian Government/Generalitat de Catalunya and ISCIII grant numbers PI17/01318 and PI20/00093 (to J.B.). Work in CC Lab was supported by grants SAF (2010-17226) and (2016-77894-R) from MINECO (Spain), FIS (PI 13/02269, ISCIII) and PI20/00093. Work in CF Lab was supported by the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife (grants CGIEU0000219140 and “Apuestas científicas del ITER para colaborar en la lucha contra la COVID-19”); the agreement with the Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER) to strengthen scientific and technological education, training research, development and innovation in Genomics, Personalized Medicine and Biotechnology (grant number OA17/008). A.V.-F.’s Lab is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), RTI2018-093747-B-100 (“Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación”, Spain), “Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades” (Spain), ProID2020010093 (“Agencia Canaria de Investigación, Innovación y Sociedad de la Información” and European Social Fund), UNLL10-3E-783 (ERDF and “Fundación CajaCanarias”) and “SEGAI-ULL”. S.P-Y is funded by “Fundación Doctor Manuel Morales” (La Palma, Spain) and “Contrato Predoctoral Ministerio-ULL Formación de Doctores” (2019 Program) (“Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades”, Spain). R.C.-R. is funded by RD16/0025/0011 and ProID2020010093 (“Agencia Canaria de Investigación, Innovación y Sociedad de la Información” and European Social Fund). J.G.-L. is funded by the “Juan de la Cierva de Incorporación” Spanish Program (IJC2019-038902-I) (“Ayudas Juan de la Cierva de incorporación; Agencia Estatal de Investigación. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación”).S
Veterinaria es Calidad
En una Universidad tan grande y antigua como la UCM donde las dinámicas de funcionamiento llevan décadas implantadas, la Cultura de la Calidad no ha sido entendida y acogida por una parte del colectivo universitario, que ve en ella una imposición, moda o, cuanto menos, la ruptura de una dinámica existente. Romper esta inercia depende de que todo el colectivo reconozca la necesidad y utilidad de estos métodos que permiten seguir avanzando adaptándose a una sociedad en continua evolución. Nuestro objetivo era que la comunidad universitaria del centro fuera consciente de la existencia de un sistema de calidad que era, en gran parte, responsable de las mejoras de las que todos disfrutamos
A genome-wide association study follow-up suggests a possible role for PPARG in systemic sclerosis susceptibility
Introduction:
A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) comprising a French cohort of systemic sclerosis (SSc) reported several non-HLA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showing a nominal association in the discovery phase. We aimed to identify previously overlooked susceptibility variants by using a follow-up strategy.<p></p>
Methods:
Sixty-six non-HLA SNPs showing a P value <10-4 in the discovery phase of the French SSc GWAS were analyzed in the first step of this study, performing a meta-analysis that combined data from the two published SSc GWASs. A total of 2,921 SSc patients and 6,963 healthy controls were included in this first phase. Two SNPs, PPARG rs310746 and CHRNA9 rs6832151, were selected for genotyping in the replication cohort (1,068 SSc patients and 6,762 healthy controls) based on the results of the first step. Genotyping was performed by using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays.
Results:
We observed nominal associations for both PPARG rs310746 (PMH = 1.90 × 10-6, OR, 1.28) and CHRNA9 rs6832151 (PMH = 4.30 × 10-6, OR, 1.17) genetic variants with SSc in the first step of our study. In the replication phase, we observed a trend of association for PPARG rs310746 (P value = 0.066; OR, 1.17). The combined overall Mantel-Haenszel meta-analysis of all the cohorts included in the present study revealed that PPARG rs310746 remained associated with SSc with a nominal non-genome-wide significant P value (PMH = 5.00 × 10-7; OR, 1.25). No evidence of association was observed for CHRNA9 rs6832151 either in the replication phase or in the overall pooled analysis.<p></p>
Conclusion:
Our results suggest a role of PPARG gene in the development of SSc
One-year cardiovascular outcomes after coronavirus disease 2019: The cardiovascular COVID-19 registry
Background: The long-term cardiovascular (CV) outcomes of COVID-19 have not been fully explored.
Methods: This was an international, multicenter, retrospective cohort study conducted between February and December 2020. Consecutive patients ?18 years who underwent a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV2 were included. Patients were classified into two cohorts depending on the nasopharyngeal swab result and clinical status: confirmed COVID-19 (positive RT-PCR) and control (without suggestive symptoms and negative RT-PCR). Data were obtained from electronic records, and clinical follow-up was performed at 1-year. The primary outcome was CV death at 1-year. Secondary outcomes included arterial thrombotic events (ATE), venous thromboembolism (VTE), and serious cardiac arrhythmias. An independent clinical event committee adjudicated events. A Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for all baseline characteristics was used for comparing outcomes between groups. A prespecified landmark analysis was performed to assess events during the post-acute phase (31-365 days).
Results: A total of 4,427 patients were included: 3,578 (80.8%) in the COVID-19 and 849 (19.2%) control cohorts. At one year, there were no significant differences in the primary endpoint of CV death between the COVID-19 and control cohorts (1.4% vs. 0.8%; HRadj 1.28 [0.56-2.91]; p = 0.555), but there was a higher risk of all-cause death (17.8% vs. 4.0%; HRadj 2.82 [1.99-4.0]; p = 0.001). COVID-19 cohort had higher rates of ATE (2.5% vs. 0.8%, HRadj 2.26 [1.02-4.99]; p = 0.044), VTE (3.7% vs. 0.4%, HRadj 9.33 [2.93-29.70]; p = 0.001), and serious cardiac arrhythmias (2.5% vs. 0.6%, HRadj 3.37 [1.35-8.46]; p = 0.010). During the post-acute phase, there were no significant differences in CV death (0.6% vs. 0.7%; HRadj 0.67 [0.25-1.80]; p = 0.425), but there was a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis (0.6% vs. 0.0%; p = 0.028). Re-hospitalization rate was lower in the COVID-19 cohort compared to the control cohort (13.9% vs. 20.6%; p = 0.001).
Conclusions: At 1-year, patients with COVID-19 experienced an increased risk of all-cause death and adverse CV events, including ATE, VTE, and serious cardiac arrhythmias, but not CV death
Santa Cristina de Lena, un monumento enigmático del prerrománico asturiano: piedras, deterioro y sugerencias de conservación
[EN] The analysis about
the building material and erection of Santa Cristina de
Lena is not limited to the study of the stone and the
deterioration of the monument with the intention of
proposing solutions to conserve it but also contributes
to throw light upon one of the most enigmatic
monuments of Asturian Pre-Roman Art, differentiating
the original elements from those added at a later date
and explaining some of its stylistic peculiarities.[ES] El análisis que se expone sobre los elementos matéricos y constructivos de Santa Cristina de Lena no se limita al estudio de la piedra y del deterioro del monumento con la intención de proponer soluciones para su conservación, sino que además contribuye con un conocimiento científico riguroso a arrojar luz sobre uno de los monumentos más enigmáticos del Arte Prerrománico Asturiano, diferenciando los elementos originales de los incorporados con posterioridad y explicando algunas de sus peculiaridades estilísticas.Álvarez, S.; Esbert, RM.; Arias, L.; Sáenz, R.; Alonso, FJ.; Ordaz, J.; Díaz-Pache, F.... (2005). Santa Cristina de Lena, un monumento enigmático del prerrománico asturiano: piedras, deterioro y sugerencias de conservación. Loggia, Arquitectura & Restauración. (18):70-87. doi:10.4995/loggia.2005.3482SWORD708718Álvarez Martínez, M. S. (1988). Santa Cristina de Lena, Oviedo.Amador de los Ríos y Serrano Padilla, J. (1877). Monumentos latino-bizantinos de la Monarquía asturiana-leonesa. Ermita de Santa Cristina en el concejo de Lena (Asturias). En: Monumentos Arquitectónicos de España, Madrid.Arias Páramo, L. (1993). Prerrománico asturiano. El arte de la Monarquía Asturiana, Gijón.Arias Páramo, L. (1995). Prerrománico asturiano. Diez años como Patrimonio de la Humanidad, Oviedo.Bango Torviso, I. (2001). Arte Prerrománico Hispano. El arte en la España cristiana de los siglos VI al XI, Summa Artis, VIII-II, Madrid.Cid Priego, C. (1995). Arte prerrománico de la Monarquía Asturiana, Oviedo.Esbert, R. M y Marcos, R. (1983). Las piedras de la catedral de Oviedo y su deterioración. Oviedo.Esbert, R. M.; García-Ramos, J. C.; Nistal, A. M.; Ordaz, J.; Valenzuela, M.; Alonso, F. J. y Suárez de Centi, C. (1992). El proceso digital de imágenes aplicado a la conservación de la piedra monumental. Revista de Arqueología, XIII (139). García de Castro, C. (1995). Arqueología cristiana de la Alta Edad Media, Oviedo.Gómez Moreno, M. (1919). Iglesias mozárabes. Arte Español de los siglos IX al XI, Madrid.Lampérez y Romea, V. (1908). Historia de la Arquitectura cristiana española en la Edad media según el estudio de los elementos y los monumentos, I, Madrid.Lázaro, J.B. (1894). Ermita de Santa Cristina de Lena (Oviedo). Reseña de las obras hechas para su restauración, Madrid.Manzanares Rodríguez, J. (1957). Arte prerrománico asturiano. Síntesis de su arquitectura, Oviedo.Nieto Alcaide, V. (1989). Arte Prerrománico Asturiano, Salinas.Noack-Haley, S. y Arias Páramo, L. (1993). Reconstrucción de los accesos a la tribuna de Santa Cristina de Lena (Asturias), Revista de Arqueología, 142, 40-45.Ordaz, J. y Esbert, R. M. (1988). Glosario de términos relacionados con el deterioro de las piedras de construcción. Materiales de Construcción, 38 (209), 39-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.3989/mc.1988.v38.i209.847Pita Andrade, J. M. (1963). Arte asturiano, Madrid.Schlunk, H. (1947). Arte Asturiano. En: Ars Hispaniae, II, Madrid
Identification of CRF66_BF, a New HIV-1 Circulating Recombinant Form of South American Origin
Circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) are important components of the HIV-1 pandemic. Among 110 reported in the literature, 17 are BF1 intersubtype recombinant, most of which are of South American origin. Among these, all 5 identified in the Southern Cone and neighboring countries, except Brazil, derive from a common recombinant ancestor related to CRF12_BF, which circulates widely in Argentina, as deduced from coincident breakpoints and clustering in phylogenetic trees. In a HIV-1 molecular epidemiological study in Spain, we identified a phylogenetic cluster of 20 samples from 3 separate regions which were of F1 subsubtype, related to the Brazilian strain, in protease-reverse transcriptase (Pr-RT) and of subtype B in integrase. Remarkably, 14 individuals from this cluster (designated BF9) were Paraguayans and only 4 were native Spaniards. HIV-1 transmission was predominantly heterosexual, except for a subcluster of 6 individuals, 5 of which were men who have sex with men. Ten additional database sequences, from Argentina (n = 4), Spain (n = 3), Paraguay (n = 1), Brazil (n = 1), and Italy (n = 1), branched within the BF9 cluster. To determine whether it represents a new CRF, near full-length genome (NFLG) sequences were obtained for 6 viruses from 3 Spanish regions. Bootscan analyses showed a coincident BF1 recombinant structure, with 5 breakpoints, located in p17 gag , integrase, gp120, gp41-rev overlap, and nef, which was identical to that of two BF1 recombinant viruses from Paraguay previously sequenced in NFLGs. Interestingly, none of the breakpoints coincided with those of CRF12_BF. In a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree, all 8 NFLG sequences grouped in a strongly supported clade segregating from previously identified CRFs and from the CRF12_BF "family" clade. These results allow us to identify a new HIV-1 CRF, designated CRF66_BF. Through a Bayesian coalescent analysis, the most recent common ancestor of CRF66_BF was estimated around 1984 in South America, either in Paraguay or Argentina. Among Pr-RT sequences obtained by us from HIV-1-infected Paraguayans living in Spain, 14 (20.9%) of 67 were of CRF66_BF, suggesting that CRF66_BF may be one of the major HIV-1 genetic forms circulating in Paraguay. CRF66_BF is the first reported non-Brazilian South American HIV-1 CRF_BF unrelated to CRF12_BF.This work was funded through Acción Estratégica en Salud Intramural (AESI), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, projects PI16CIII/00033 and PI19CIII/00042; Red de Investigación en SIDA (RIS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), Plan Nacional I+D+I, project RD16ISCIII/0002/0004; and scientific agreements with Consellería de Sanidade, Government of Galicia (MVI 1004/16) and Osakidetza-Servicio Vasco de Salud, Government of Basque Country (MVI 1001/16).S
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