Dual T1/ T2 Nanoscale Coordination Polymers as Novel Contrast Agents for MRI: A Preclinical Study for Brain Tumor.

In the last years, extensive attention has been paid on designing and developing functional imaging contrast agents for providing accurate noninvasive evaluation of pathology in vivo. However, the issue of false-positives or ambiguous imaging and the lack of a robust strategy for simultaneous dual-mode imaging remain to be fully addressed. One effective strategy for improving it is to rationally design magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents (CAs) with intrinsic T1/ T2 dual-mode imaging features. In this work, the development and characterization of one-pot synthesized nanostructured coordination polymers (NCPs) which exhibit dual mode T1/ T2 MRI contrast behavior is described. The resulting material comprises the combination of different paramagnetic ions (Fe3+, Gd3+, Mn2+) with selected organic ligands able to induce the polymerization process and nanostructure stabilization. Among them, the Fe-based NCPs showed the best features in terms of colloidal stability, low toxicity, and dual T1/ T2 MRI contrast performance overcoming the main drawbacks of reported CAs. The dual-mode CA capability was evaluated by different means: in vitro phantoms, ex vivo and in vivo MRI, using a preclinical model of murine glioblastoma. Interestingly, the in vivo MRI of Fe-NCPs show T1 and T2 high contrast potential, allowing simultaneous recording of positive and negative contrast images in a very short period of time while being safer for the mouse. Moreover, the biodistribution assays reveals the persistence of the nanoparticles in the tumor and subsequent gradual clearance denoting their biodegradability. After a comparative study with commercial CAs, the results suggest these nanoplatforms as promising candidates for the development of dual-mode MRI CAs with clear advantages.

Social exclusion of the adolescent with overweight: study of sociocentric social networks in the classroom.

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have shown the social consequences of suffering overweight, with social exclusion or isolation as some of the most important. In order to study the social patterns among adolescents, we have set as objectives to analyse the position of the individual within their network from a sociocentric perspective, comparing the relational pattern of the adolescents suffering from overweight with those who are normal weight. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study using logistic regression and social network analysis. We analysed the contact patterns of 235 adolescents in 11 social networks, classifying contact into three levels of intensity: minimum, intermediate and maximum (friendship). The WHO reference was used for the variable of overweight. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight was 30.2% (25.5% overweight and 4.7% obesity). An analysis of the relational patterns of individuals with overweight showed that at the minimum contact level, they established fewer relationships and less closeness (odds ratio [OR]: 2.32; confidence interval [CI] 95%: 1.17-4.66; p-value: 0.016). This effect was more marked in female adolescents. At intermediate contact level, they had few relationships and low prestige (OR: 3.29; CI: 95%; 1.03-10.51; p-value: 0.045, OR: 3.18; CI: 95%; 1.00-10.04; p-value: 0.049, respectively). At maximum contact level (friendship), female adolescents related little with other adolescents (OR: 3.78; CI: 95%; 1.07-13.32; p-value: 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with overweight take up peripheral positions within their social network, choosing by themselves not to establish contact with others. Social network analysis is crucial to detect adolescents with overweight at risk of exclusion and help alleviate psychological and social deficits.

Las relaciones informales: un valor añadido en la gestión de personas / Informal relationships: an added value in human management

Las organizaciones sanitarias son consideradas por los expertos como una de las más complejas a nivel de gestión y política de personas. El hecho responde a la intensidad de las emociones vividas en el día a día tanto con el paciente como con los colegas. Las experiencias vividas donde se combinan alegrías, tristezas y momentos estresantes generan en muchas organizaciones sanitarias un clima laboral inadecuado que repercute negativamente en el rendimiento de las organizaciones de salud. Este artículo pretende justificar teóricamente, la importancia de las relaciones sociales o informales que se establecen entre los trabajadores y cómo éstos pueden tejer un entramado por el que fluyan conocimiento, creatividad y valores que provoquen una cultura organizativa capaz de aumentar el rendimiento de la empresa sanitaria (AU)

Health organizations are considered by experts how one of the most complexity about management and resources of human. The reason is a lot of strenght emotions lived every day so much with patients so with peers. Lived experiences, where they are linked (combined), joy(felicity), sorrow and stress situations, can be the cause of wrong (bad) climate and so to impact (shaping) on the future performance of the health organizations. The objective of this paper is to argue the value of social relationship o informal relationship among workers and how those can knith (draw) a structure by the which, flow knowledge, creativity and values. Secondary to this, the organisationally culture is able to improve the performance of health enterprise (AU)