Biomarker responses of Cu-induced toxicity in European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax: Assessing oxidative stress and histopathological alterations.

A comprehensive approach to chemical accumulation and biological effects of short-term Cu exposure in juveniles of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) has been achieved. Fish were exposed to 0.01-10mgL-1 nominal Cu concentrations for 24-96h. Metal concentrations in water and gills, liver, muscle and brain tissues were studied along with oxidative stress biomarkers (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, lipid peroxidation). Induction of oxidative damage was observed in all the organs with differential antioxidant responses; gills appearing as the most sensitive from low environmentally water Cu concentrations as 0.01mgL-1. Histopathological alterations were also observed in liver and gills, even without a significant Cu accumulation. The results show that the combination of oxidative stress parameters, particularly lipid peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase activities, and histopathological alterations provide a good model fish and reliable early biomarkers for monitoring Cu pollution in seawater and might call for the protection agencies to revise the Cu environmental standards.

Chitosan-coated mesoporous MIL-100(Fe) nanoparticles as improved bio-compatible oral nanocarriers.

Nanometric biocompatible Metal-Organic Frameworks (nanoMOFs) are promising candidates for drug delivery. Up to now, most studies have targeted the intravenous route, related to pain and severe complications; whereas nanoMOFs for oral administration, a commonly used non-invasive and simpler route, remains however unexplored. We propose here the biofriendly preparation of a suitable oral nanocarrier based on the benchmarked biocompatible mesoporous iron(III) trimesate nanoparticles coated with the bioadhesive polysaccharide chitosan (CS). This method does not hamper the textural/structural properties and the sorption/release abilities of the nanoMOFs upon surface engineering. The interaction between the CS and the nanoparticles has been characterized through a combination of high resolution soft X-ray absorption and computing simulation, while the positive impact of the coating on the colloidal and chemical stability under oral simulated conditions is here demonstrated. Finally, the intestinal barrier bypass capability and biocompatibility of CS-coated nanoMOF have been assessed in vitro, leading to an increased intestinal permeability with respect to the non-coated material, maintaining an optimal biocompatibility. In conclusion, the preservation of the interesting physicochemical features of the CS-coated nanoMOF and their adapted colloidal stability and progressive biodegradation, together with their improved intestinal barrier bypass, make these nanoparticles a promising oral nanocarrier.

Central obesity and altered peripheral adipose tissue gene expression characterize the NAFLD patient with insulin resistance: Role of nutrition and insulin challenge.

OBJECTIVE: Insulin resistance (IR) and white adipose tissue (WAT) dysfunction frequently are associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, the pathogenic mechanisms contributing to their clustering are not well defined. The aim of this study was to define some nutritional, anthropometric, metabolic, and genetic mechanisms contributing to their clustering. METHODS: Forty-five (20 men, 25 women) patients (age 45.7 ± 11.1 y) with recent diagnosis of NAFLD were grouped according to IR state. Energy balance was assessed using a food questionnaire and indirect calorimetry, and body composition with anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Biochemical and hormonal parameters combined with adipose tissue gene expression were determined. Microarray analysis of gene expression was performed in a subset of WAT samples from IR patients (n = 9), in the fasted state, after specific test meals (monounsaturated fatty acid [MUFA], saturated fat [SAT], and carbohydrate-rich) and after being challenged with insulin. RESULTS: IR patients exhibited higher trunk fat to leg fat ratio (P < 0.05) and had a higher ratio of SAT/MUFA fat intake (P < 0.05) than insulin-sensitive (IS) individuals. Deposition of fat in the trunk but not in the leg was directly related to liver enzyme levels (P < 0.05). IR patients also had lower adiponectin serum levels and leptin (LEP) mRNA expression in WAT compared with IS patients (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Microarray analysis after insulin challenge confirmed that insulin treatment induces the expression of PPARG gene and LEP and decreases GCGR gene (P < 0.05 for all) in WAT. No changes in these genes were observed in the postprandial state induced after the acute effect of specific diets. CONCLUSIONS: Patients exhibiting NAFLD and IR had preferential central fat deposition directly related to their serum alanine aminotransferase levels. These patients showed peripheral adipose tissue dysfunction and exhibited inappropriately low LEP biosynthesis that could be partially restored after anabolic conditions induced by insulin signaling.

Advances on structuring, integration and magnetic characterization of molecular nanomagnets on surfaces and devices.

This critical review represents a concise revision of the different experimental approaches so far followed for the structuration of molecular nanomagnets on surfaces, since the first reports on the field more than ten years ago. Afterwards, a presentation of the different experimental approaches followed for their integration in sensors is described. Such work involves mainly two families of sensors and devices, microSQUIDs sensors and three-terminal devices for single-molecule detection. Finally the last section is devoted to a detailed revision of the different experimental techniques that can be used for the magnetic characterization of these systems on surfaces, ranging from magnetic circular dichroism to magnetic force microscopy. The use of these techniques to characterize other nanostructured magnetic materials, such as nanoparticles, is also revised. The aim is to give a broad overview of the last advances achieved with these techniques and their potential and evolution over the next years.

Assisted-assembly of coordination materials into advanced nanoarchitectures by Dip Pen nanolithography.

Femptolitre droplets deposited on surfaces assisted by an AFM tip are used as reactor vessels to fabricate arrays of nanoarchitectures ranging from single-crystals of metal-organic frameworks to hollow capsules of magnetic polyoxometalates.

An efficient approach to designing and optimizing the analysis of Ni(II) by AdCSV in seawater.

A highly sensitive voltammetric method was developed for the determination of nickel in seawater at nanomolar concentrations. The measurement is based on the differential pulse cathodic adsorptive stripping of Ni(II) complexed with pyridoxal salicyloylhydrazone at a hanging mercury drop electrode. Optimal conditions were found following a two-step study strategy based on a Plackett Burman design and subsequently a modified simplex method. They were: deposition potential -0.8 V; deposition time 120 s; differential pulse scan mode; pulse amplitude -0.07 V; pulse time 0.04 s; voltage step 0.017 V; time interval for voltage step 0.05 s; supporting electrolyte ammonium chloride/ammonia (0.08 M, pH=8.9) and concentration of PSH 5.32 × 10(-6)M. The response of the system was found to be linear in a range of Ni concentrations from 0 to 306.7 × 10(-9)M. The detection limit was found to be 0.04 × 10(-9)M of Ni(II). The precision of the method was 1.4% for 3.4×10(-8)M of Ni(II) and 1.48% for the blank at a significance level of 95% (n=9). The method was free from interferences of inorganic salts and trace metals at usual concentrations in seawater. The application to seawater was demonstrated by analysis of CRM 505 and LGC 6016 certified reference estuarine water and real seawater samples from Tangier Bay (Morocco).

Cerebelitis aguda con hidrocefalia y compresión aguda del tronco encefálico / Acute cerebellitis with hydrocephalus and acute compression of the cerebral trunk

La cerebelitis aguda (CA) acompañada de inflamación fatal del cerebelo es un cuadro muy poco frecuente con diferentes formas de tratamiento. Presentamos el caso de un niño que desarrolló una CA de evolución mortal. Realizamos una revisión de la bibliografía incluyendo diferentes opciones de tratamiento. Se trata de un varón de 5 años de edad que, tras un cuadro de cefalea y vómitos, evoluciona rápidamente a coma. La resonancia magnética cerebral muestra una hidrocefalia obstructiva por compresión del tronco cerebral debido a un aumento de volumen de los hemisferios cerebelosos. Se decidió realizar tratamiento médico con esteroides, y tratamiento quirúrgico mediante la colocación de una válvula de derivación externa, a pesar de lo cual el paciente falleció. La necropsia fue compatible con una CA. Existen pocos casos descritos en la bibliografía de evolución mortal de una CA. El tratamiento esteroideo puede ser insuficiente, por lo que es necesario realizar una intervención neuroquirúrgica rápida mediante un drenaje ventricular externo. Algunos pacientes pueden precisar una descompresión de la fosa posterior mediante una craniectomía suboccipital descompresiva. En este caso clínico, la evolución fue tan rápida que impidió dicho procedimiento (AU)

Acute cerebellitis (AC) accompanied of fatal inflammation of the cerebellum is a rare disease with different forms of medical and surgical treatment. We report the case of a child who developed a CA of fatal evolution. We review the literature and discuss about it including different treatment options. This is a 5-year-old male patient who presents symptoms such as a headache and vomits evolving rapidly into a comma. The cerebral MRI shows an obstructive hydrocephalus and compression of the cerebral trunk due to an increase of volume of the cerebellar hemispheres. The decision is of medical treatment and steroids and a surgical intervention by means of placing an eternal ventricular drain all was ineffective and the patient dies. The autopsy was compatible with AC. The steroid treatment may be insufficient therefore it is necessary to establish a rapid neuro-surgery by means of an external ventricular drainage. Some patients might need a decompression of the posterior cavity by means of a decompressive suboccipital craniectomy. In this clinical case, the evolution was so fast that the above-mentioned procedure was prevented (AU)

Sensitive adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for determination of lead in water using multivariate analysis for optimization.

A sensitive adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetric (AdCSV) method is presented for direct determination of Pb(II) at nanomolar levels in water based on metal complexation with 2-acetylpyridine salicyloylhydrazone (2-APSH) and subsequent adsorptive deposition onto hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). The instrumental and chemical factors were optimized using exploratory (Plackett-Burman) and sequential (Simplex) designs. Under optimal conditions (pH 5.6, -0.552 V for deposition voltage, 0.0083 V for voltage step and 0.87 s for time interval for voltage step) a limit of detection of 0.17 nM was obtained and the relative standard deviation of five measurements of 17.3 nM was 1.20%. The voltammetric responses increased linearly with metal ion concentrations ranging from 2.4 to 145 nM. The method was free from interferences of inorganic salts and trace metals usually present in seawater. The proposed method was successfully validated using certified reference estuarine water (LGC 6016) with relative error of -2.15% and applied to real seawater samples (relative errors of -4.40% and +1.84%).

Tratamiento con metadona durante el embarazo: repercusión en el recién nacido / Treatment with methadone during pregnancy: repercussion in the newborn

El objetivo de este estudio es conocer el perfil epidemiológico de las madres en tratamiento con metadona durante la gestación y caracterizar el síndrome de abstinencia en el recién nacido. Se revisan los aspectos maternos, perinatales y neonatales de 30 recién nacidos de madres en tratamiento con metadona que ingresaron en nuestra Unidad de Neonatología desde enero de 1995 hasta mayo de 2001.Los antecedentes más frecuentes en las madres estudiadas son: edad cercana a los 29 años, familia monoparental, con más de dos embarazos y frecuentes antecedentes de abortos, sin control obstétrico durante la gestación. El parto es generalmente eutócico y los test de Apgar, también suelen estar acordes a la normalidad. El neonato presenta bajo peso al nacimiento y el síndrome de abstinencia con casi total seguridad (29 de 30). El síndrome de abstinencia es de inicio precoz e intensidad y duración elevadas. Menos de tres horas de sueño y el llanto agudo son los síntomas más comunes al inicio y los más frecuentes en aparecer son los generales y neurológicos (AU)

[A multicenter primary care study on alcohol consumption]. / Estudio multicéntrico sobre el abordaje del consumo de alcohol en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVES: To find records of alcoholic drink consumption in general medical records and actions taken when at-risk drinkers were identified. DESIGN: A descriptive study using clinical auditing at 4 Health Centres. PARTICIPANTS: 399 Primary Care (PC) clinical records. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Only 24.8% of the clinical records included alcoholic drink consumption over the last two years. Only 11 (2.8%)-all for men-of the records examined fulfilled the criteria for the drinker being considered at-risk. Low recording of alcohol might be for different reasons: some related to the professionals, others to the internal organisation of the PC team, yet others due to the external support structure. Causes related to internal organisation and the professionals were considered priority, as it was harder to intervene from the team into external causes. CONCLUSIONS: The results show low recording of alcohol consumption and justify the design of specific interventions. The methodology of continual quality improvement helps us identify the causes, the possible solutions and to design the strategy for change.