Zirconia coating of carbon nanotubes by a hydrothermal method.

Carbon nanotubes have unique mechanical properties that open attractive possibilities in many fields, such as the biomedical one. Currently, zirconia ceramics are widely used as femoral heads, but case studies show that delayed failure can occur in vivo due to crack propagation. Nanotubes could avoid the slow crack propagation and enhance the toughness of the ceramic material used for prostheses fabrication. In this work, single-wall carbon nanotubes and multi-wall carbon nanotubes have been partially coated with nanozirconia via hydrothermal synthesis and characterized by several techniques: X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, electron energy loss spectra, X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. By means of these techniques, the existence of bonds between zirconium and the carbon nanotube has been proved. The as covered nanotubes should offer a better wettability in the ceramic matrix and improve the dispersion of the carbon nanotubes, to obtain the desired new ceramic biomaterial with a longer lifetime and better reliability.

[Uterovesical perforation secondary to intrauterine device with vesical lithiasis formation: a report of two cases]. / Perforación útero-vesical secundaria a un dispositivo intrauterino con formación de litiasis vesical: a propósito de dos casos.

Uterovesical perforation is an uncommon complication in patients with intrauterine devices (IUD). When this complication occurs, intravesical lithiasis is often associated. We present two cases of uterovesical perforation with a description of the radiological findings and a review of the literature.

Perforación útero-vesical secundaria a un dispositivo intrauterino con formación de litiasis vesical: a propósito de dos casos / Uterovesical perforation secondary to intrauterine device with vesical lithiasis formation: a report of two cases

La perforación útero-vesical es una complicación poco frecuente en pacientes portadoras de dispositivos intrauterinos (DIU). En los casos en los que aparece dicha complicación, es frecuente encontrar litiasis intravesicales asociadas. Se presentan dos casos de perforación útero-vesical con descripción de sus hallazgos radiológicos, realizándose además una revisión de la literatura

Uterovesical perforation is an uncommon complication in patients with intrauterine devices (IUD). When this complication occurs, intravesical lithiasis is often associated. We present two cases of uterovesical perforation with a description of the radiological findings and a review of the literature

[Psycho-pathological risk factor of arterial disease (prevalence, superposition or vinculation with other factors)]. / Estudio oncativo: factores de riesgo psicopatológicos de enfermedad arterial (prevalencia, superposición o vínculo con otros factores).

Alexitimia and depression may or not coexist with others risk factors (comportment o physical). Frecuently they have relation with socio-echonomic status and with ethnia. Sometimes are determinants of the atherosclerotic process by increasing the vascular reactivity by the alteration of the evolution. There is no information in our country about this problem in general population. The present study result of the investigation of these aspects and the comportamental and physical factors of arterial disease, in a population of Cordoba province (Argentina Republic).

Estudio oncativo: factores de riesgo psicopatológicos de enfermedad arterial (prevalencia, superposición o vínculo con otros factores) / Psycho-pathological risk factor of arterial disease (prevalence, superposition or vinculation with other factors)

Entidades psicopatológicas como alexitimia y depresión, pueden coexistir o no con factores de riesgo de enfermedad arterial o ser entidades independientes. Tienen frecuentemente relación con aspectos socio-económico-culturales y con la etnia; a veces son determinantes del proceso ateroesclerótico por alterar la reactividad vascular (Alexitimai) o agravadores del proceso evolutivo (depresión). Materiales y métodos: Existe escasa información sobre esta tematica en nuestro país: la existente se refiere a los mismos en muestras seleccionadas, no de poblaciones generales (urbanas o rurales). Resultados: se exponen los resultados obtenidos de lainvestigación de esos factores en una población de la Provincia de Córdoba (RA), donde simultáneamente se estudiaron factores de orden fisico y conductual. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de la depresión es más elevada que en otras poblaciones

Alexitimia and depression may or not coexist with others risk factors (comportment o physical). Frecuently they have relation with socio-echonomic status and with ethnia. Sometimes are determinants of the atherosclerotic process by increasing the vascular reactivity by the alteration of the evolution. There is no information in our country about this problem in general population. The present study result of the investigation of these aspects and the comportamental and physical factors of arterial disease, in a population of Cordoba province (Argentina Republic).

Gene therapy that inhibits nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappaB results in tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis of human synovial fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVE: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) increases the survival and proliferation of human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cell lines. These experiments were designed to determine if inhibition of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) nuclear translocation leads to increased apoptosis of TNFalpha-treated human RA cell lines. METHODS: We constructed an inhibitor of nuclear factor kappaB(IkappaB) dominant-negative adenovirus (AdCMVIkappaB-DN) and an X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) antisense adenovirus (AdCMVXIAP-AS). Primary RA synovial fibroblast (RASF) cell lines were transfected in vitro, and SV40-transformed RA synovial cell lines in SCID mice were transfected in vivo. Cells were treated with TNFalpha and analyzed for apoptosis. RESULTS: There was no apoptosis of primary RASF transfected in vitro with AdCMVIkappaB-DN alone. In contrast, there was apoptosis of >85% of cells treated with AdCMVIkappaB-DN plus TNFalpha. Primary RASF in SCID mice also exhibited high levels of apoptosis after in vivo transfection with AdCMVIkappaB-DN followed by treatment with TNFalpha. There was no apoptosis after treatment with AdCMVIkappaB-DN in the absence of TNFalpha. XIAP is an inhibitor of apoptosis which was up-regulated by TNFalpha, and this up-regulation was inhibited by AdCMVIkappaB-DN plus TNFalpha. Transfection of an AdCMVXIAP-AS gene therapy resulted in increased TNFa-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSION: AdCMVIkappaB-DN gene therapy greatly enhances apoptosis due to inhibition of an NF-kappaB-mediated antiapoptosis signaling pathway, and XIAP is a TNFalpha-inducible specific inhibitor of apoptosis in RA synovial cell lines. This and other modulators of TNF receptor or the Fas apoptosis pathway may be therapeutically beneficial in facilitating apoptosis of synovial tissue in patients with RA.