Automatic feedback control by image processing for mixing solutions in a microfluidic device.

Two approaches of an automatic control were studied through mathematical fitting obtained from color mixing saturation curves in polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic devices: The integrative control with variable integral gain and integrative control with constant integral gain. The aim of this work is to control the color percentage decrement when dye is injected. The results indicate that microfluidic systems are very sensitive to changes in flow and the control variable needs to change slowly; that is, it must be small (at least 100 times less than the theoretically calculated values). The control and stabilization of the microfluidic system were achieved for dye percentages above 60%. The controlling color percentage could provide a tool to regulate other parameters' concentration applied to cell culture and alkalinity control (pH) of solutions in microfluidic devices.

Production of bacterial cellulose tubes for biomedical applications: Analysis of the effect of fermentation time on selected properties.

Biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose (BC) in cylindrical oxygen permeable molds allows the production of hollow tubular structures of increasing interest for biomedical applications (artificial blood vessels, ureters, urethra, trachea, esophagus, etc.). In the current contribution a simple set-up is used to obtain BC tubes of predefined dimensions; and the effects of fermentation time on the water holding capacity, nanofibrils network architecture, specific surface area, chemical purity, thermal stability, mechanical properties, and cell adhesion, proliferation and migration of BC tubes are systematically analysed for the first time. The results reported highlight the role of culture time on key properties of the BC tubes produced, with significant differences arising from the denser and more compact fibril arrangements generated at longer fermentation intervals.

Pharmacist comprehensive review of treatment compared with STOPP-START criteria to detect potentially inappropriate prescription in older complex patients.

OBJECTIVES: To compare potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) according to the clinical judgement of the pharmacist with PIP according to explicit STOPP-START criteria in institutionalised and hospitalised patients with multiple pathologies. To describe and compare the main pharmacological groups involved and determine the factors associated with the detection of PIP in these patients. METHOD: A prospective multicentre observational study of institutionalised and hospitalised multipathology patients aged >65 years. A specialised pharmacist used his best clinical judgement to detect PIP based on a comprehensive review of the complete chronic treatment of patients, which is an essential activity in interdisciplinary care. STOPP-START criteria were used as an aid tool to detect PIP. The main variable was the number of PIP incidents detected. RESULTS: Detected PIP incidents were analysed in 338 patients. Clinical judgement detected more PIP incidents (35%) than did STOPP-START criteria. More PIP incidents unrelated to these criteria were detected in institutionalised patients than in hospitalised patients. Clinical judgement mainly detected PIP incidents related to incorrect doses and drug interactions (p<0.001); however, STOPP-START criteria mainly detected PIP incidents related to drug duplication and insufficiently treated diagnosis or symptoms (p=0.001 and p<0.001). In total, 93.8% of the PIP incidents were detected in polypharmacy patients (≥5 drugs). Institutionalised and high-level polypharmacy (≥10 drugs) patients were at the highest risk of PIP. CONCLUSIONS: A large number of PIP incidents were detected in institutionalised and hospitalised patients with multiple pathologies. The inclusion of a pharmacist in the multidisciplinary team facilitated the detection of PIP incidents, particularly in the institutionalised population and patients treated with high-level polypharmacy which were not detected by explicit STOPP-START criteria.

Glucokinase gene mutation screening in Argentinean clinically characterized MODY patients.

INTRODUCTION: Mutations in the glucokinase gene (GCK) produce a subtype of Maturity onset diabetes in the young (MODY), named MODY 2. To date over than 190 different mutations have been identified, distributed over the coding regions and the exon-intron boundaries of the gene. The aim of this work was to study the nature and frequency of mutations in the GCK gene, in a MODY clinically characterized Argentinean population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy unrelated individuals were selected based on MODY clinical features. The study methodology consisted in PCR amplification of the coding regions of the GCK gene, SSCP electrophoresis analysis of the amplified fragments and direct sequencing of the fragments with abnormal electrophoresis pattern. RESULTS: We identified a total of six patients with mutations in the GCK gene. This included two novel mutations: g.1831C>A, g.3792T>A, one already reported by our group, g.168fsdelC (same mutation in two non-related patients) and two already reported: p.Gln138Pro and p.Gly261Glu. With that data, we could establish the prevalence of MODY 2 among the patients in study reaching to 8.6%. DISCUSSION: The main contribution of this study is to inform about two novel mutations not described to date and to make an approach to the establishment of the prevalence of MODY 2 in the population under study. These findings contribute to confirm the allelic heterogeneity of GCK gene mutations and may provide an insight into the structure-function relationship of the GCK.

Contracepción de emergencia. Una perspectiva desde la adolescencia / Emergency contraception: a perspective from the adolescence

Justificación: La anticoncepción de emergencia es una demanda creciente en los diferentes grupos de edad. Objetivo: Describir el grado de conocimiento, actitudes y prácticas de adolescentes sobre anticoncepción de emergencia. Diseño: Descriptivo transversal. Participantes y métodos: Mediante encuesta autocumplimentada y anónima con 30 ítems sobre conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas relativas a anticoncepción de emergencia a 446 alumnos de dos Institutos de Educación Secundaria de Torrijos. Resultados: Son mujeres el 53.4%. Edad media: 15.6 años (rango: 13 a 19). El 33.1% (Intervalo de confianza de 95% 28.7-37.6) han mantenido relaciones sexuales, apreciando diferencia por edades (p<0.001). La valoración de conocimientos sobre anticoncepción de emergencia fue de 3.9 sobre 10; mayor en mujeres (4.3 vs. 3.5; p<0.001) y en edades superiores (p<0.001). La principal fuente de información son los medios de comunicación (45.3%), pero la más deseada son los profesionales sanitarios (86.3%). El 61.1% prefiere obtenerla en centros especiales para jóvenes. El 66.1% está de acuerdo en que solo debe usarse cuando falla el anticonceptivo habitual. Un 8.4% (Intervalo de confianza de 95% 4.5-14.9) de los que han mantenido relaciones sexuales ha usado alguna vez anticoncepción de emergencia. Un 9.1% son repetidoras. El 54.5% la obtuvo en urgencias de Atención Primaria. El 45.5% tuvo dificultades para conseguirla. Conclusiones: el grado de conocimiento sobre anticoncepción de emergencia es bajo. Un alto porcentaje no considera el método como de “emergencia”. En el rango de edades analizado, el uso es escaso

Justification: Emergency contraceptive (EA), is an increasing demanded on the different ages collectives. Aim: Describe the knowledge grade, attitudes and teenagers practices on EA. Design: Transversal descriptive. Methodology: Though self filling enquire and anonymous with 30 items about knowledge, attitudes, and practices relatives to EA to 446 students from the two "I.E.S Torrijos". Results: Women the 53.4% Average age: 15.6 years old ( rate: 13 to 19). The 33.1% (IC 95%, 28.7-37.6) have had sexual relations, noticing differences on ages (p 0.001). The knowledge valuation about EA was 3.9 over 10; bigger on women (4.3vs3.5; p 0.001) and on older ages (p 0.001). The main information source are the media, but the most wanted (wished) are the sanitary professional (86.3%). The 61.1% prefer to obtain it on especial centres to young people. The 61.1 % agree with must be use only when the usual contraceptive faies. A 8.4% (95%, 14.5-14.9) whom have had sexual relations has used at least once EA. A 9.1% are repeated. The 54.5% got it at the AP emergency. The 45.5% had troubles to get it. Conclusion: The knowledge grade about EA is not so high. A high percentage don’t consider the method as an "emergency" one. On the age’s rate analysed, the use is scarce

Hallazgo con gammagrafía con citrato de galio-67 de enfermedad de Paget en mujer con linfoma gástrico / Finding with scintigraphy with 67-gallium citrate of Paget’s disease in a woman with gastric lymphoma

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[Being a nurse today]. / Ser enfermera hoy.

This article was presented as a conference in Soria as part of the celebration of International Nursing Day 2000. The topic of this conference was the contribution Florence Nightingale made to the definition of the real essence of the nursing profession, and its evolution over the course of the century. The author included a discussion of these topics: What do nurses want? What do business managers want? What does society want and need? Finally, the author concluded that nursing is a lively profession which has tremendous desires to improve itself.

Steroid 21-hydroxylase autoantibodies: measurements with a new immunoprecipitation assay.

Autoantibodies (Abs) to steroid 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) are a major component of adrenal cortex Abs and are characteristic of autoimmune Addison's disease. We have developed a new method for measuring Abs to 21-OH based on 125I-labeled recombinant human 21-OH produced in yeast. With this assay, 21-OH Abs were detected in 43 of 60 (72%) sera from patients with isolated Addison's disease, 11 of 12 (92%) autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type I sera, 27 of 27 (100%) autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II sera, and 24 of 30 (80%) sera from patients who were positive for adrenal cortex antibodies by immunofluorescence but had no overt Addison's disease. 21-OH Abs were found by 125I assay in 4 of 150 (2.7%) sera from patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, 1 of 77 (1.3%) Graves' sera, 1 of 67 (1.5%) Hashimoto's sera, and 6 of 243 (2.5%) sera from healthy blood donors. 21-OH Abs were not detected in 9 sera from patients with Addison's disease due to tuberculosis, 32 sera from patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, 35 sera from patients with myasthenia gravis, or 17 sera from patients with premature ovarian failure. There was good agreement between the 125I-labeled 21-OH assay and an assay based on 35S-labeled 21-OH produced in an in vitro transcription/translation system (r = 0.86; n = 129; P < 0.001). In the case of sera from patients with Addison's disease, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Graves' disease, and Hashimoto's disease and from healthy blood donors that were low positive in the 125I assay, neutralization studies with unlabeled 21-OH confirmed the presence of specific 21-OH Abs. Overall, the 21-OH Ab assay based on 125I-labeled 21-OH showed good sensitivity, precision, and disease group specificity. This, combined with a simple assay protocol and the convenience of 125I handling and counting, make it attractive for routine use. Further investigations with the new assay should allow wider assessment of the prevalence and pattern of inheritance of adrenal autoimmunity. In addition, studies of the effect of treatment or possible preventative measures on 21-OH Ab levels in individuals without overt adrenal failure may suggest ways of delaying the onset of autoimmune Addison's disease.

Quantum mechanical study and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements of some alpha-arylcarboxyalkyl acids as anti-inflammatory agents.

The CNDO/2 quantum mechanical conformation method of analysis, charge density and protonation energy calculations, as well as 13C and 1H NMR measurements were carried out for ibufenac, ibuprofen, methylibuprofen, and for a series of alpha-arylpropionic acids. It was found that the nature of the terminal lipophilic residue does not significantly influence the conformation of the alpha-arylcarboxyalkyl acid side chain. The preferred conformational angle, for the torsion of the phenyl-C alpha bond, was found to be 90, 120, and 180 degrees in ibufenac, ibuprofen, and methylibuprofen, respectively. This conformational angle is calculated to be the same in all the alpha-arylpropionic acids. The protonation energies of the alpha-arylpropionic acids are correlated with the anti-inflammatory activity. It was found that the smaller the protonation energy, the larger the anti-inflammatory activity.

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA encoding the KS1/4 epithelial carcinoma marker.

The mAb KS1/4 recognizes a novel cell surface glycoprotein on a variety of epithelial carcinomas which may be a useful target Ag for antibody-directed diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Here we report the isolation and characterization of a full length cDNA clone coding for the KS1/4 Ag, as well as, physical and biochemical studies on the antigen derived from an adenocarcinoma of the lung cell line. Affinity purification of the KS1/4 Ag reveals three glycosylated species by NaDodSO4 PAGE with molecular weights of 42, 40, and 35 kDa. The 42- and 40-kDa species are similar at the protein level, differing by their degree of glycosylation, and the 35-kDa protein results from a dibasic proteolytic cleavage of the larger m.w. species. Although both the 42- and 40-kDa forms are found on the cell surface, the 40-kDa protein appears to be the predominant species. A cDNA clone containing the complete KS1/4 coding sequence and the 5'- and 3'-non-translated regions was isolated from a library constructed from the human adenocarcinoma of the lung derived cell line, UCLA-P3. The cDNA clone contains an open reading frame of 314 amino acids which includes a putative signal sequence of 23 amino acids. Northern blot analysis shows a single RNA species of 1.5-kb. Sequence analysis of the 5' and 3' noncoding regions of the KS1/4 cDNA revealed homologies to known proto-oncogenes and inflammatory mediators.

Conformational analysis of some alpha-phenylpropionic acids with anti-inflammatory activity.

CNDO/2 quantum mechanical conformational calculations, as well as 13C and 1H NMR measurements, have been carried out for the propionic acid residues of 2-(p-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid (ibuprofen) and 2-methyl-2-(p-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid. A relationship between the conformational angle of the propionic acid residue and the anti-inflammatory activity appears to exist. The more open the Ph--C alpha--COOH dihedral angle, the larger the anti-inflammatory activity.