Enantiosensitive growth dynamics of chiral molecules on ferromagnetic substrates and the origin of the CISS effect.

The recent demonstration of the existence of an intimate relationship between the chiral structure of some materials and the spin polarization of electrons transmitted through them, what has been called the chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect, is sparking interest in many related phenomena. One of the most notorious is the possibility of using magnetic materials to apply enantioselective interactions on chiral molecules and chemical reactions involving them. In this work, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to characterize the adsorption and growth kinetics of enantiopure organic molecules on magnetic (Co) and non-magnetic (Cu) substrates. While on these latter, no significant enantiosensitive effects are found, on spin-polarized, in-plane magnetized Co surfaces, the two enantiomers have been found to deposit differently. The observed effects have been interpreted as the result of one of the enantiomers being adsorbed in a transient, weakly bound physisorbed-like state with higher mobility due to limited, spin-selective charge transfer between it and the substrate. The study of these phenomena can provide insight into the fundamental mechanisms responsible for the CISS effect.

Diastereoselective synthesis of chiral 1,3-cyclohexadienals.

A novel approach to the production of chiral 1,3-cyclohexadienals has been developed. The organocatalysed asymmetric reaction of different ß-disubstituted-α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes with a chiral α,ß-unsaturated aldehyde in the presence of a Jørgensen-Hayashi organocatalyst provides easy and stereocontrolled access to the cyclohexadienal backbone. This method allows for the synthesis of potential photoprotective chiral 1,3-cyclohexadienals and extra extended conjugation compounds in a simple manner.

Extended anticoagulation in venous thromboembolism disease. In favour. / Anticoagulación extendida en la enfermedad tromboembólica venosa. A favor.

Venous thromboembolism disease can be considered a chronic disease because, after the first episode, there is a life-long risk of recurrence. Recurrence is a severe complication. Anticoagulation is effective while it is maintained, but when it is discontinued, the risk of new thrombotic events persists indefinitely. Clinical practice guidelines offer specific recommendations on the treatment duration for patients with provoked or recurrent disease but are not specific for those with a first unprovoked episode. The decision should be made after a careful individual assessment of the risk-benefit of anticoagulation. This article reviews the evidence in favour of extending the anticoagulation and the current therapeutic options.

Cu diffusion as an alternative method for nanopatterned CuTCNQ film growth.

In this paper we show by means of 'in situ' x-ray diffraction studies that CuTCNQ formation from Cu(solid)-TCNQ(solid tetracyanoquinodimethane) goes through Cu diffusion at room temperature. The film quality depends on the TCNQ evaporation rate. At low evaporation rate we get a single phase-I CuTCNQ film very well crystallized and well oriented. The film has a CuTCNQ(0 2 0) orientation. The film is formed by CuTCNQ nanorods of a very homogeneous size. The film homogeneity has also been seen by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The electronic properties of the film have been measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). Thus, the Cu-diffusion method has arisen as a very simple, clean and efficient method to grow localized CuTCNQ nanorods on Cu, opening up new insights for technological applications.

Numerically efficient real space theory of scattering from colloidal crystals.

The production of high-quality colloidal crystals demands precise quantitative characterization of their nanostructures. While small-angle radiation scattering is the technique of choice, a procedure for a comprehensive quantitative modeling of the data is still pending. A novel theory based on the pertinent radial pair distribution which takes into account orientational, positional, stacking disorder and grain effects is developed here. We also show how the scattering length density of the particles can be estimated from the positions of minima in the form factor. The obtained results can be cast as sums of analytical functions over the distribution function and, as such, are suitable for easy (automatic) parallelization. On the experimental side, we report on a strong extinction effect coming from grazing incidence specular reflection that we have been able to model analytically.

[Climate change: new diseases for a new climate?]. / Cambio climático: euronuevas enfermedades para un nuevo clima?

Since the beginning of the 20th century, there has been a progressive increase in the Earth's temperature. This warming of the Earth's surface is largely due to the so-called green house effect that can alter the natural behavior of some natural phenomena such as El Niño. Several articles on climate change have been published recently. Some authors have raised the question of whether these changes could affect human health or even lead to the reappearance of some eradicated diseases. This report focuses on the changes seen in health up to date and their probable causes. Some changes in energy emission levels have been proposed in order to restrain this trend.

Cambio climático: ¿nuevas enfermedades para un nuevo clima? / Climate change: new diseases for a new climate?

Desde comienzos del siglo xx la temperatura terrestre ha ido aumentando de manera progresiva. Este calentamiento de la superficie terrestre, debido en gran parte al llamado efecto invernadero, podría alterar el curso natural de ciertos fenómenos naturales como el de El Niño. Recientemente se han publicado varios artículos acerca del cambio climático. Algunos autores han planteado la hipótesis de si ello podría tener algún efecto sobre la salud humana o facilitaría incluso la reaparición de ciertas enfermedades erradicadas actualmente. Este artículo se centra en los cambios evidenciados en la salud hasta la fecha y sus posibles causas. Se han propuesto varios cambios en la emisión energética para frenar esta tendencia (AU)

Since the beginning of the 20th century, there has been a progressive increase in the Earth's temperature. This warming of the Earth's surface is largely due to the so-called green house effect that can alter the natural behavior of some natural phenomena such as El Niño. Several articles on climate change have been published recently. Some authors have raised the question of whether these changes could affect human health or even lead to the reappearance of some eradicated diseases. This report focuses on the changes seen in health up to date and their probable causes. Some changes in energy emission levels have been proposed in order to restrain this trend (AU)

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Eating Behaviours and Body Image Test for Preadolescent Girls (EBBIT).

The purpose of the current study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Spanish adaptation of the Eating Behaviours and Body Image Test for Preadolescent Girls (EBBIT), as well as its factor structure and internal consistency. A further objective was to determinate the convergent validity between measures of body mass index (BMI) and scores on the Body Dissatisfaction (BD) subscale, taking into account a wider questionnaire, known as the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI-2). Once the original scale was translated, 525 girls (age range 7-12 years) were assessed by the EBBIT, and the BD subscale. Students were weighed and measured, using calibrated electronic instruments to calculate BMI scores. Factor analysis suggested two primary factors which represent body image dissatisfaction/ restrictive eating (BIDRE) and binge eating behaviours (BEB). The internal consistency of the EBBIT was 0.904. A multiple regression analysis was performed using BMI, age and BD subscale data (independent variables). Results suggest that scores on the EBBIT factors are related to body size satisfaction. Higher BMI and higher BD scores were associated with higher scores on the BIDRE, and BD scores were associated with higher scores on the BEB factor.

[Prescription errors in patients admitted to an internal medicine department from the emergency room]. / Errores de prescripción en pacientes que ingresan en un servicio de medicina interna procedentes de urgencias.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and quantify emergency room prescription errors upon patient admission in an internal medicine unit, assess their severity and causes, and evaluate their potential clinical impact. METHOD: Discrepancies found between emergency room and internal medicine unit prescriptions were analyzed by 4th-year resident pharmacists. Prescription errors were collected and classified according to their severity and potential morbidity, and a medical analysis of service value was performed according to Overhage's method. Furthermore, pharmacist actions regarding therapeutic regimen optimization are described. RESULTS: Of 177 patients, 50 had prescription errors, for a total of 141 errors. Seven percent of prescriptions had an error. Mean errors per patient amounted to 0.8 (SD 1.51). Most commonly involved medications included anti-asthmatic and anti-infectious agents, and fluid therapy agents. On severity assessment 12.8% were considered severe, and 57.4% were considered significant. The main cause was omission of a needed therapy. Potential pharmacotherapeutic morbidity is related to adverse effects and cardiovascular disease. Medical assessment considered 12% very significant, and 52% significant. Pharmacist actions were directed towards effectiveness improvement in 57% of cases, and safety in 43.2% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency departments, as main entry points for patient admission to hospital, should be considered a priority in prescription quality improvement programs.

Errores de prescripción en pacientes que ingresan en un servicio de medicina interna procedentes de urgencias / Prescription errors in patients admitted to an internal medicine department from the emergency room

Objetivo: En este estudio se detectan y cuantifican los errores de prescripción del servicio de urgencias al ingresar los pacientes en una unidad de medicina interna, se evalúa la gravedad y las causas, así como el potencial impacto clínico de los mismos. Método: Las discrepancias encontradas en las prescripciones del servicio de urgencias y de medicina interna fueron analizadas por farmacéuticos residentes de cuarto año. Se extrajeron los errores de prescripción y se clasificaron de acuerdo a la gravedad y potencial morbilidad, se hizo un análisis médico del valor del servicio, siguiendo el método de Overhage. Se describe, además, la actuación del farmacéutico en la optimización del régimen terapéutico. Resultados: De 177 pacientes, 50 presentaron errores de prescripción, obteniéndose un total de 141 errores. El 7% de las prescripciones presentaban un error. La media de errores por paciente era de 0,8 (DE 1,51). Los medicamentos más implicados fueron antiasmáticos, antiinfecciosos y fluidoterapia. En la valoración de la gravedad fueron considerados serios el 12,8% y significativos el 57,4%. La causa principal fue la omisión de tratamiento necesario. La morbilidad farmacoterapéutica potencial se relaciona con efectos adversos y enfermedades del sistema cardiocirculatorio. La evaluación médica consideró muy significativos el 12% y significativos el 52%. La actuación farmacéutica se dirigió a la mejora de la efectividad en un 57% de los casos y a la seguridad en un 43,2%. Conclusiones: Los datos obtenidos concuerdan con otros autores en la prevalencia de errores de prescripción en el ámbito del ingreso hospitalario. Sin embargo, se pone en evidencia la dificultad de valorar la morbilidad farmacoterapéutica potencial según los diferentes resultados que se han obtenido en los estudios con los cuales se ha comparado. Pero según los resultados, los servicios de urgencias, cuando son puerta principal de entrada del paciente en el hospital, han de ser considerados como prioritarios en los programas de mejora de la calidad de la prescripción

Objective: To identify and quantify emergency room prescription errors upon patient admission in an internal medicine unit, assess their severity and causes, and evaluate their potential clinical impact. Method: Discrepancies found between emergency room and internal medicine unit prescriptions were analyzed by 4th-year resident pharmacists. Prescription errors were collected and classified according to their severity and potential morbidity, and a medical analysis of service value was performed according to Overhage’s method. Furthermore, pharmacist actions regarding therapeutic regimen optimization are described. Results: Of 177 patients, 50 had prescription errors, for atotal of 141 errors. Seven percent of prescriptions had an error. Mean errors per patient amounted to 0.8 (SD 1.51). Most commonly involved medications included anti-asthmatic and anti-infectious agents, and fluid therapy agents. On severity assessment 12.8% were considered severe, and 57.4% were considered significant.The main cause was omission of a needed therapy. Potential pharmacotherapeutic morbidity is related to adverse effects and cardiovascular disease. Medical assessment considered 12% very significant, and 52% significant. Pharmacist actions were directed towards effectiveness improvement in 57% of cases, and safety in 43.2% of cases. Conclusions: Emergency departments, as main entry points for patient admission to hospital, should be considered a priority in prescription quality improvement programs

Conocimientos de las puérperas sobre autocuidados y cuidados del recién nacido en el momento del alta hospitalaria / Knowledge of puerperal women concerning self-care and care of the newborn at hte time of discharge

Objetivo: Conocer qué grado de conocimientos tienen las puérperas sobre autocuidados y cuidados del recién nacido en el momento del alta de la unidad de hospitalización posparto.Método: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal, en la unidad de posparto del Hospital Universitario “Virgen de Valme” de Sevilla, desde diciembre de 2003 a febrero de 2004. Los individuos del estudio fueron 50 mujeres que, tras parto vaginal sin complicaciones y recién nacido normal, fueron dadas de alta a las 48 horas. Se elaboró un cuestionario ad hoc autocumplimentado, que recogía los conocimientos percibidos por la puérpera sobre autocuidados y cuidados del recién nacido, Se relacionó el nivel de conocimientos con la paridad y la realización de educación maternal.Resultados: Los resultados obtenidos reflejan que las mujeres consideran que saben cómo cuidar sus necesidades básicas y las del recién nacido antes del alta hospitalaria. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p= 0,036) entre los conocimientos que tenían las madres primíparas sobre el cuidado de la episiotomía (65,6 frente a 94,4%) y sobre los signos de alarma del RN (43,8 frente al 83,3%).Conclusiones: Como conclusión más importante destaca la necesidad de garantizar la educación sanitaria a las mujeres en el puerperio antes del alta hospitalaria

Objective: To know the degree of knowledge of new mothers in terms of self-care and newborn care after post-delivery hospital discharge.Method: An observational, descriptive and cross sectional study was undertaken in the postnatal unit of the Virgen de Valme University Hospital in Sevilla (Spain), from December 2003 to February 2004. The subjects studied were 50 women, who, after a vaginal delivery, without complications left the hospital 48 hours later with their newborns. An ad hoc questionnaire was elaborated, filled out by the mothers, which asked about their reception on caring for themselves and their newborn. The level of knowledge was related to parity and maternal education.Results: The results obtained indicate that the birthing mothers knew how to take care of their basic needs and those of their newborns, while they presented gaps in those aspects to be observed during post-partum recuperation and the physical exercises. Health care education was considered necessary by 82% of the mothers before hospital discharge. Statistically significant differences (p= 0.036) were observed between the primiparous and multiparous women in terms of their knowledge concerning the care of the episiotomy (65.6% versus 94.4%) and warning signs in the newborn (43.8% versus 83.3%).Conclusions: The need to guarantee health education before the hospital discharge

Molecular structure-dynamics relationships in glassy poly(isophthalamide)s as revealed by wide angle x-ray scattering, dielectric loss spectroscopy, and molecular modelling.

The effect of molecular structure on the gamma relaxation dynamics has been studied in a set of aromatic poly(isophthalamide)s. This polymer family differ in the bridge group between phenylene rings [hexafluoroisopropylidene (C(CF(3))(2)) or ether] and also in the presence of t-butyl groups (C(CH(3))(3)) as pendant substituent on the five position of isophthalic ring. The results obtained from wide angle x-ray scattering in the glassy state indicated that both (C(CF(3))(2)) and (C(CH(3))(3)) groups favor the separation between chains, which is reflected on different interchain average distances. Dielectric experiments showed that both bulky groups favor the mobility in the glassy state. Molecular modelling methods were used to know the kind of molecular motions associated to the dielectric relaxation observed below the glass transition temperature.

Vacunación frente a Neisseria meningitidis / Vaccination against Neisseria meningitidis

La enfermedad meningocócica es causa de morbilidad y mortalidad en todo el mundo, especialmente en niños y adultos jóvenes. Los serogrupos de la Neisseria meningitidis que con más frecuencia producen enfermedad son: A, B, C, W135 y el Y, siendo su distribución diferente según la zona. Las vacunas disponibles producen inmunidad específica frente a los diferentes serogrupos. Todas son seguras y eficaces para los mayores de dos años y se recomiendan en ciertos grupos de riesgo. A pesar de ello, en la actualidad continúa siendo un importante problema de salud pública, ya que, pese a las estrategias interpuestas, la mejora de la inmunogenicidad de las vacunas disponibles sigue constituyendo el reto más importante (AU)

Anomalous X-ray diffraction with soft X-ray synchrotron radiation.

Anomalous diffraction with soft X-ray synchrotron radiation opens new possibilities in protein crystallography and materials science. Low-Z elements like silicon, phosphorus, sulfur and chlorine become accessible as new labels in structural studies. Some of the heavy elements like uranium exhibit an unusually strong dispersion at their M(V) absorption edge (lambdaMV = 3.497 A, E(MV) = 3545 eV) and so does thorium. Two different test experiments are reported here showing the feasibility of anomalous X-ray diffraction at long wavelengths with a protein containing uranium and with a salt containing chlorine atoms. With 110 electrons the anomalous scattering amplitude of uranium exceeds by a factor of 4 the resonance scattering of other strong anomalous scatterers like that of the lanthanides at their L(III) edge. The resulting exceptional phasing power of uranium is most attractive in protein crystallography using the multi-wavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) method. The anomalous dispersion of an uranium derivative of asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (hexagonal unit cell; a = 123.4 A, c = 124.4 A) has been measured for the first time at 4 wavelengths near the M(V) edge using the beamline ID1 of ESRF (Grenoble, France). The present set up allowed to measure only 30% of the possible reflections at a resolution of 4 A, mainly because of the low sensitivity of the CCD detector. In the second experiment, the dispersion of the intensity of 5 X-ray diffraction peaks from pentakismethylammonium undecachlorodibismuthate (PMACB, orthorhombic unit cell; a = 13.003 A, b = 14.038 A, c = 15.450 A) has been measured at 30 wavelengths near the K absorption edge of chlorine (lambdaK = 4.397 A, EK= 2819.6 eV). All reflections within the resolution range from 6.4 A to 3.4 A expected in the 20 degree scan were observed. The chemical state varies between different chlorine atoms of PMACB, and so does the dispersion of different Bragg peaks near the K-edge of chlorine. The results reflect the performance of the beamline ID1 of ESRF at wavelengths beyond 3 A at the end of 1998. A gain by a factor 100 for diffraction experiments with 4.4 A photons was achieved in Autumn 1999 when two focusing mirrors had been added to the X-ray optics. Further progress is expected from area detectors more sensitive to soft X-rays. Both CCD detectors and image plates would provide a gain of two orders of measured intensity. Image plates would have the additional advantage that they can be bent cylindrically and thus cover a larger solid angle in reciprocal space. In many cases, samples need to be cooled: closed and open systems are presented. A comparison with the state of art of soft X-ray diffraction, as it had been reached at HASYLAB (Hamburg, Germany), and as it is developing at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (USA), is given.

Feasibility and review of anomalous X-ray diffraction at long wavelengths in materials research and protein crystallography.

The feasibility and a review of progress in the long-wavelengths anomalous dispersion technique is given in the context of the development of beamline ID1 of the ESRF for such studies. First experiments on this beamline and their analyses are described. The first study reports on the use of uranium which exhibits an unusually strong anomalous dispersion at its M(V) absorption edge (lambda(M(V)) = 3.5 A). The anomalous scattering amplitude of uranium with 110 anomalous electrons exceeds the resonance scattering of other strong anomalous scatterers like that of the rare earth ions by a factor of four. The resulting exceptional phasing power of uranium is most attractive in protein crystallography using the MAD method. The anomalous dispersion of a uranium derivative of asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (hexagonal, a = 124.4 A, c = 123.4 A) has been measured at three wavelengths near the M(V) edge using beamline ID1 of the ESRF. The present set-up allowed the measurement of 10% of the possible reflections at a resolution of 8 A. This is mainly due to the low sensitivity of the CCD camera. The second study, involving DAFS experiments at wavelengths near the K-absorption edge of chlorine (lambda(K) = 4.4 A), reports the use of salt crystals which give rise to much stronger intensities of diffraction peaks than those of protein crystals. In the case of a crystal of pentamethylammonium undecachlorodibismuthate (PMACB, orthorhombic, a = 13.00 A, b = 14.038 A, c = 15.45 A), all reflections within the resolution range from 6.4 A to 3.5 A and the total scan width of 24 degrees were collected. The crystalline structure of PMACB implies two chemically distinct states of the Cl atom. Consequently, different dispersions near the K-edge of chlorine are expected. The dispersion of the intensity of five Bragg peaks of the PMACB crystal has been measured at 30 wavelengths. The relative success of these preliminary experiments with X-rays of long wavelength shows that the measurement of anomalous X-ray diffraction at wavelengths beyond 3 A is feasible. Starting from the experience gained in these experiments, an increased efficiency of the instrument ID1 by two to three orders of magnitude will be achieved in this wavelength range. A comparison with different techniques of anomalous diffraction which rely on the use of argon/ethane-filled multiwire chambers and image plates as detectors for wavelengths near the K-edge of sulfur and phosphorus is also given.

[Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. Apropos of 6 cases]. / Linfadenitis necrotizante histiocitaria: enfermedad de Kikuchi-Fujimoto. A propósito de 6 casos.

Necrotizing Histiocytic Lymphadenitis or Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a benign process of lymphatic system that consists of lymphadenopathy which may be accompanied by fever, rash and some haematological alterations as anaemia. It affects usually young people, mostly women. Although it is more frequent in Oriental countries, there have been some notices about this disease in Europe recently. We present six patients that have been diagnosed in our Hospital between 1986 and 1996. All presented as cervical masses and fever. The diagnostic procedure was the lymph node biopsy, which showed the typical pathology of this disease: some foci of necrosis which contained plasmocytoides cells and atypical lymphocytes. It is also suggestive of this entity the absence of polymorphonuclear cells. Then, the diagnosis of the Necrotizing Histiocytic Lymphadenitis is made by the histology. The treatment is symptomatic. In all cases the evolution is the whole remission of symptoms. In our patients the illness was self-limited and none presented any other symptom. Our proposal with this article is to remind the clinicians of this entity when people ask for cervical masses and fever.

infadenitis necrotizante histiocitaria: enfermedad de Kikuchi-Fujimoto.A propósito de 6 casos# / istiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis: kikuchi-fujimoto disease: report of six cases#

La Linfadenitis Necrotizante Histiocitaria o Enfermedad de Kikuchi-Fujimoto es un proceso benigno del sistema linfático caracterizado por linfadenopatías y que puede acompañarse de síndrome febril prolongado, rash cutáneo, alteraciones hematológicas leves como anemia o trombopenia. Suele aparecer en personas de edad joven, generalmente mujeres. Aunque inicialmente se había descrito en países orientales, en los últimos años se han publicado varios casos en Europa. En este trabajo incluimos los datos de seis pacientes que fueron estudiados en nuestro Hospital entre los años 1986 y 1996. Los seis pacientes estaban siendo estudiados por la presencia de fiebre y tumefacciones cervicales. La prueba diagnóstica en todos ellos fue la realización de una biopsia de una de las adenopatías. Ésta mostraba en todos los casos la histología característica de la enfermedad, que consiste en la observación de focos de necrosis dispersos por el ganglio, además de la presencia de histiocitos atípicos y células plasmocitoides. También es un dato característico en esta enfermedad la ausencia de polimorfonucleares neutrófilos. El diagnóstico de la Linfadenitis Necrotizante Histiocitaria es, por tanto, anatomo-patológico. En cuanto a la evolución y pronóstico, es un proceso autolimitado, benigno, que hasta la fecha no se ha relacionado con la aparición posterior de procesos linfoproliferativos, infecciosos u otros. El tratamiento de esta entidad, cuando es necesario, es puramente sintomático. En nuestros pacientes la evolución fue a la remisión completa de los síntomas, sin que ninguno de los pacientes presentaran recaídas posteriores. Con este trabajo pretendemos llamar la atención sobre esta entidad benigna en todos aquellos pacientes que se presentan con adenopatías y fiebre (AU)