Photobiomodulation with low-level laser therapy reduces oral mucositis caused by head and neck radio-chemotherapy: prospective randomized controlled trial.

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of photobiomodulation with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as a preventive and therapeutic procedure for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal mucositis caused by radio-chemotherapy in patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). An experimental, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study was conducted involving patients diagnosed with oral SCC undergoing oncological treatment. The variables analyzed included grade, appearance, and remission of mucositis. A final sample of 26 patients was included: 11 (42.3%) in the study group and 15 (57.7%) in the control group; their average age was 60.89±9.99years. Statistically significant differences between the groups were observed from week 5 of oncological treatment; 72.7% of the laser group showed normal mucosa (mucositis grade 0), while in the control group, 20.0% showed grade 0 mucositis and 40.0% showed grade 2 mucositis (P<0.01). No statistically significant difference between the groups was found regarding the application or use of medication throughout the study period (P>0.05). The tolerance evaluation did not show any statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the occurrence of side effects or adverse events during the trial (P>0.05). Photobiomodulation with LLLT reduces the incidence and severity of mucositis in patients treated with radiotherapy±chemotherapy.

Hydrogeochemical characterization of a shallow alluvial aquifer: 1 baseline for groundwater quality assessment and resource management.

Considering the progressive depletion of groundwater quantity and the alteration of superficial and groundwater quality in the Madrid region, a highly populated area with extended urbanizations in the north and agricultural activities in the south, we conducted a monitoring study over a period of 2.5 years (2015-2017). The study was conducted in the Jarama-Tajuña shallow alluvial aquifer system located southeast of Madrid, where the exploitation of the aquifer and the Jarama river have increased exponentially in the last decade being affected by both urban and agricultural activities. Our aims were to provide: i) a geochemical characterization of the surface and groundwater properties; ii) identify the process responsible for the geochemical evolution and mineralization of the waters; iii) assess the water quality (i.e. nitrates, ammonia, sodium and chloride as potential contaminants) and the water suitability for irrigation (SAR, Wilcox, KI and MH indexes); and iv) identify the main sources of contamination in the area. A set of plots, ion ratios, correlation coefficients, multivariate statistical analyses and indexes were performed. Results indicated that rock weathering largely controls the hydrogeochemistry of the system and that wastewater treatment plant discharges and agricultural practices significantly affect the composition of the water, causing an important decline of both surface and groundwater chemical quality. Nonetheless, water suitability for irrigation is admissible. Thus, taking additional measures to increase its quality are not necessary. With this study we aimed to establish a base line to evaluate future changes in the groundwater properties from the Madrid region enabling the planners and policy makers to develop a strategy to mitigate the impact of the exponential increase of urban and agriculture activities on groundwater resources.

Incidence of asthma in young adults from Castellon, Spain: A prospective cohort study

Background: The objective was to estimate the incidence of asthma in young adults from 13-15 years old to 23-25 years old, and associated factors. Methods: In 2012, a population-based prospective cohort study was carried out in Castellon from the cohort who had participated in the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood in 1994 and 2002. A telephone survey was undertaken using the same questionnaires. A new case of asthma was defined as a participant free of the disease in 2002 who suffered asthma, was diagnosed with asthma, or took medications against asthma based on self-report from 2002 to 2012. Results: The mean age of participants was 24.9 ± 0.6 with a follow-up of 79.1%. Asthma cumulative incidence was 3.4%: 44 new cases occurred among 1280 participants. The incidence was higher in females than males with relative risk (RR) =2.02 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-3.8). A significant decrease of asthma incidence density was observed (8.2 cases to 3.5 cases per 1000 person/year). Factors associated with the incidence of asthma were allergic rhinitis (RR = 4.05; 95% CI 1.7-9.6), bronchitis (RR = 2.13; 95% CI 1.0-4.5), mother's age at time of birth (RR=0.87; 95% CI 0.8-0.9) and a pet other than a dog or cat (RR = 0.42; 95% CI 0.2-0.9). For gender, some variations in the risk factors were observed. Conclusions: A significant decrease in the incidence of asthma was observed. Several risk and protective factors were found (AU)

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Incidence of asthma in young adults from Castellon, Spain: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to estimate the incidence of asthma in young adults from 13-15 years old to 23-25 years old, and associated factors. METHODS: In 2012, a population-based prospective cohort study was carried out in Castellon from the cohort who had participated in the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood in 1994 and 2002. A telephone survey was undertaken using the same questionnaires. A new case of asthma was defined as a participant free of the disease in 2002 who suffered asthma, was diagnosed with asthma, or took medications against asthma based on self-report from 2002 to 2012. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 24.9±0.6 with a follow-up of 79.1%. Asthma cumulative incidence was 3.4%: 44 new cases occurred among 1280 participants. The incidence was higher in females than males with relative risk (RR)=2.02 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-3.8). A significant decrease of asthma incidence density was observed (8.2 cases to 3.5 cases per 1000 person/year). Factors associated with the incidence of asthma were allergic rhinitis (RR=4.05; 95% CI 1.7-9.6), bronchitis (RR=2.13; 95% CI 1.0-4.5), mother's age at time of birth (RR=0.87; 95% CI 0.8-0.9) and a pet other than a dog or cat (RR=0.42; 95% CI 0.2-0.9). For gender, some variations in the risk factors were observed. CONCLUSIONS: A significant decrease in the incidence of asthma was observed. Several risk and protective factors were found.

Incidence of allergic rhinitis in a cohort of young adults from 13-15 years old to 23-25 years old in Castellon (Spain)

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of Allergic Rhinitis (AR) in young adults and its risk or protective factors. METHODS: A population-based prospective cohort study was carried out in 2012. The cohort participated in the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood in Castellon in 1994 and 2002. A telephone survey was conducted using the same questionnaires. A new case of AR was defined as the participants free of the disease in 2002, who self-reported suffering from AR or taking medications for AR in the period 2002-2012. RESULTS: Of the 1805 schoolchildren in the cohort in 2002, 1435 young adults (23-25 years old) participated (follow-up 79.1%) in 2012; 743 were female and 692 male; their mean age was 24.9±0.6 years. Two hundred new cases of AR occurred in 1259 participants free of the disease with an incidence of 17.3 per 1000 person-years, and the incidence increased from 2002 (RR=1.42; 95% CI 1.15-1.75). The risk factors of AR adjusted by age and gender were sinusitis (RR=1.77; 95% CI 1.16-2.68), atopic dermatitis (RR=1.51; 95% CI 1.11-2.06) and constant exposure to truck traffic (RR=1.88; 95% CI 1.12-3.17). For male participants, the risk factors were asthma, sinusitis and atopic dermatitis, and for females bronchitis was a risk factor and presence of older siblings a protective factor. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in AR incidence was observed. Sinusitis, atopic dermatitis and constant exposure to truck traffic were the risk factors of the AR with some differences by gender

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Incidence of allergic rhinitis in a cohort of young adults from 13-15 years old to 23-25 years old in Castellon (Spain).

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of Allergic Rhinitis (AR) in young adults and its risk or protective factors. METHODS: A population-based prospective cohort study was carried out in 2012. The cohort participated in the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood in Castellon in 1994 and 2002. A telephone survey was conducted using the same questionnaires. A new case of AR was defined as the participants free of the disease in 2002, who self-reported suffering from AR or taking medications for AR in the period 2002-2012. RESULTS: Of the 1805 schoolchildren in the cohort in 2002, 1435 young adults (23-25 years old) participated (follow-up 79.1%) in 2012; 743 were female and 692 male; their mean age was 24.9±0.6 years. Two hundred new cases of AR occurred in 1259 participants free of the disease with an incidence of 17.3 per 1000 person-years, and the incidence increased from 2002 (RR=1.42; 95% CI 1.15-1.75). The risk factors of AR adjusted by age and gender were sinusitis (RR=1.77; 95% CI 1.16-2.68), atopic dermatitis (RR=1.51; 95% CI 1.11-2.06) and constant exposure to truck traffic (RR=1.88; 95% CI 1.12-3.17). For male participants, the risk factors were asthma, sinusitis and atopic dermatitis, and for females bronchitis was a risk factor and presence of older siblings a protective factor. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in AR incidence was observed. Sinusitis, atopic dermatitis and constant exposure to truck traffic were the risk factors of the AR with some differences by gender.

Química analítica cualitativa

En esta obra se exponen los fundamentos en los que se basa la química analítica moderna con particular dedicación al estudio de los equilibrios en disolución, explicados con ayuda de diagramas y métodos gráficos. Se tratan además, las propiedades analíticas consideradas como periódicas y los conceptos de sensibilidad y selectividad de las reacciones. Índice Extractado: La obra está dividida en 4 partes: Primera; Fundamentos de química analítica moderna - Segunda; Química analítica de los cationes - Tercera parte; Química analítica de los aniones - Cuarta parte; se integra el estudio de los problemas sólidos - Apéndices

Learning and memory dissociation in rats with lesions to the subthalamic nucleus or to the dorsal striatum.

The striatum and the subthalamic nucleus (STN) are the two main cortical inputs to the basal ganglia. Both structures are involved in motor and cognitive functions, particularly executive functions, known to rely mainly on fronto-basal ganglia circuits. The present work investigated the respective role of the dorsal part of the striatum (dST) and the STN by studying their involvement in learning and memory processes in two separate experiments. In a first experiment, rats with lesions to the STN or to the dST were trained in a light-tone discrimination task. When the learning criterion was reached, rats were then trained to the reversed discrimination. In a second experiment, surgery was done when the learning criterion had been reached. Three weeks after surgery, animals were then subjected to two relearning sessions and then to either a reversal learning or a working memory task. When surgery was done before learning, dysfunction of the dorsal striatum induced slight difficulties in acquisition, whereas dysfunction of the STN induced no difficulties during the initial learning but induced a more rapid inhibition of responses to the first lever press following the presentation of the tone during the reversed discrimination. In the second experiment, dST-lesioned rats showed long-term memory deficit in contrast to STN-lesioned rats which showed no difficulties during relearning but deficits in working memory. These results indicate a clear dissociation in cognitive functions in which STN and dorsal striatum are involved, suggesting that the fronto-striatal circuit and the fronto-STN circuit support, at least in part, different cognitive functions.

Acceleration of apatite nucleation on microrough bioactive titanium for bone-replacing implants.

The viability of a new two-step method for obtaining bioactive microrough titanium surfaces for bone replacing implants has been evaluated. The method consists of (1) Grit blasting on titanium surface to roughen it; and (2) Thermo-chemical treating to obtain a bioactive surface with bone-bonding ability by means of nucleating and growing an apatite layer on the treated surface of the metal. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of surface roughness and chemical composition of the grit-blasting particles on the ability of the surfaces of nucleating and growing a homogeneous apatite layer. The determination and kinetics of the nucleation and growing of the apatite layer on the surfaces has mainly been studied with environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and grazing-incidence X-ray diffractometry. The results show that Al(2)O(3)-blasted and thermochemically-treated titanium surfaces accelerates nucleation of the apatite, whereas SiC-blasted and thermochemically-treated titanium surfaces inhibits apatite nucleation, compared with the well studied polished and thermochemically-treated titanium surfaces. The acceleration of the apatite nucleation on the Al(2)O(3)-blasted microrough titanium surfaces is because concave parts of the microroughness that are obtained during grit blasting provides to the rough and bioactive surfaces with a chemical- and electrostatic-favored situation for apatite nucleation. This consists of a high density of surface negative charges (also assisted by the nanoroughness of the surface obtained after the thermochemical treatment) and an increased concentration of the Ca(2+)-ions of the fluid, which have a limited mobility at the bottom of the concave parts.

Vitreous SiO2-CaO coatings on Ti6Al4V alloys: reactivity in simulated body fluid versus osteoblast cell culture.

Vitreous coatings of the SiO(2)-CaO system have been prepared on Ti6Al4V substrates by the sol-gel method. The textural parameters (porosity and roughness) and thickness of the films obtained increase when the concentration of the precursor solutions is raised. In vitro studies of these coatings have been performed using two approaches: soaking in simulated body fluid, and by growing osteoblasts on these materials. The results of both studies show differences in terms of chemical reactivity. While in simulated body fluid the coatings were dissolved without forming a bioactive surface, when osteoblast-like cells grew on the coatings they were more stable. Furthermore, cell culture assays show biocompatible behavior of these coatings making them of potential interest for clinical applications. The effect of the textural parameters of the obtained coatings on the cell functions (attachment, spreading, proliferation and differentiation) has also been studied. The results show an increase in these cell parameters as the roughness and porosity of the coatings increase.

[Cranial hemophilic pseudotumor]. / Pseudotumor hemofílico craneal. Caso clínico.

The haemophilic pseudotumor is defined as an encased hematoma that increases of volume progressively by episodes of recurrent hemorrhage. It is a rare complication of haemophilia occurring in 1-2% of patients with moderate or severe factor VIII or IX deficiency. Its more frequent location is in the long bones of low extremities and pelvis. We report a case of a 21-year-old man with moderate deficiency of factor VIII (19% of normal factor VIII activity) that developed a pseudotumor in the cranium. To our knowledge, this is the third case of the cranial hemophilic pseudotumor in medical literature.

Pseudotumor hemofílico craneal. Caso Clínico / Cranial hemophilic pseudotumor

El pseudotumor hemofílico se define como un hematoma en capsulado que aumenta de volumen de forma progresiva por episodios de hemorragia recurrente. Es una complicación poco frecuente de la hemofilia que se presenta en el 1-2% de los pacientes con déficit moderado o grave de Factor VIII o IX. Se localiza con más frecuencia en los huesos largos de extremidades inferiores y pelvis. Presentamos el caso clínico de un varón de21 años de edad con déficit moderado de Factor VIII(19% de actividad de factor VIII) que desarrolló un pseudotumor en el cráneo. Hemos encontrado únicamente tres casos de pseudotumor hemofílico craneal descritos en la literatura médica

The haemophilic pseudo tumor is defined as an encased hematoma that increases of volume progressively by episodes of recurrent hemorrhage. It is a rare complication of haemophilia occurring in 1-2% of patients with moderate or severe factor Vlll or IX deficiency. Its more frequent location is in the long bones of low extremities and pelvis. We report a case of a 21-year-old man with moderate deficiency of factor VIII (19% of normal factor VIII activity) that developed a pseudotumor in the cranium. To our knowledge, this is the third case of the cranial hemophilic pseudotumor in medical literature