Al-Pt intermetallic compounds: HAXPES study.

Intermetallic compounds in the Al-Pt system were systematically studied via hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, focusing on the positions of Pt 4f and Al 2s core levels and valence band features. On one hand, with increasing Al content, the Pt 4f core levels shift towards higher binding energies (BE), revealing the influence of the atomic interactions (chemical bonding) on the electronic state of Pt. On the other hand, the charge transfer from Al to Pt increases with increasing Al content in Al-Pt compounds. These two facts cannot be combined using the standard "chemical shift" approach. Computational analysis reveals that higher negative effective charges of Pt atoms are accompanied by reduced occupancy of Pt 5d orbitals, leading to the limited availability of these electrons for the screening of the 4f core hole and this in turn explains the experimentally observed shift of 4f core levels to higher BE.

[Standardized nursing languages and care plans. Perception of use and utility in primary healthcare]. / Lenguajes enfermeros estandarizados y planes de cuidados. Percepción de su empleo y utilidad en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To identify opinions of Primary Healthcare nurses on the use and usefulness of standardised nursing care plans and traditional nursing language systems in the practice settings. DESIGN: Multicentre, observational, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary Healthcare centres in Catalonia. PARTICIPANTS: Sample size was estimated at 1,668 registered nurses. Consecutive sampling was applied. INTERVENTIONS: On-line survey containing questions on ease, usefulness, and use of nursing care plans and standardised nursing language systems. MEASUREMENTS: Descriptive statistics, including percentages, central tendency, and dispersion measures. Statistical significance was set at P≤.05. RESULTS: The final analysis included 1,813 questionnaires. Participants stated that care plans have a medium added value, however their use is frequently incorrect. They stated to have a fair level of knowledge on traditional standardised nursing languages, and most were of the opinion that these languages are difficult to use in practice (81%) and not useful to represent nursing care provision and its outcomes (78%). Regardless of their education level and years of experience, the participants assessed as insufficient the clarity (P=.058), ease of use (P=.240), and usefulness (P=.039) of these language systems in practice. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses say that urgent changes are required in the use of care plans. This includes changing the language systems, and improving data and information that positively impacts on the provision of nursing care, as well as to enhance the health outcomes of the individuals receiving Primary Healthcare services.

Childhood memories of threatening experiences and submissiveness and its relationship to hallucination proneness and ideas of reference: The mediating role of dissociation.

Recent studies have emphasized the importance of childhood memories of threatening experiences and submissiveness in a diversity of psychological disorders. The purpose of this work was to study their specific relationship with hallucination proneness and ideas of reference in healthy subjects. The ELES scale for measuring memory of adverse childhood experiences, the DES-II scale for measuring dissociation, the LSHS-R scale for measuring hallucination proneness, and the REF for ideas of reference were applied to a sample of 472 subjects. A positive association was found between childhood memories of adverse experiences and hallucination proneness and ideas of reference, on one hand, and dissociation on the other. A mediation analysis showed that dissociation was a mediator between the memory of adverse childhood experiences and hallucination proneness on one hand, and ideas of reference on the other. When the role of mediator of the types of dissociative experiences was studied, it was found that absorption and depersonalization mediated between adverse experiences and hallucination proneness. However, this mediating effect was not found between adverse experiences and ideas of reference. The relationship between these last two variables was direct. The results suggest that childhood memories of adverse experiences are a relevant factor in understanding hallucination proneness and ideas of reference. Similarly, dissociation is a specific mediator between adverse childhood experiences and hallucination proneness.

Alternative Synthesis Route of Biocompatible Polyvinylpyrrolidone Nanoparticles and Their Effect on Pathogenic Microorganisms.

Herein we describe a novel alternative synthesis route of polyvinylpyrrolidone nanoparticles using salting-out method at a temperature close to polyvinylpyrrolidone decomposition. At elevated temperatures, the stability of polyvinylpyrrolidone decreases and the opening of pyrrolidone ring fractions occurs. This leads to cross-linking process, where separate units of polyvinylpyrrolidone interact among themselves and rearrange to form nanoparticles. The formation/stability of these nanoparticles was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and spectrophotometry. The obtained nanoparticles possess exceptional biocompatibility. No toxicity and genotoxicity was found in normal human prostate epithelium cells (PNT1A) together with their high hemocompatibility. The antimicrobial effects of polyvinylpyrrolidone nanoparticles were tested on bacterial strains isolated from the wounds of patients suffering from hard-to-heal infections. Molecular analysis (qPCR) confirmed that the treatment can induce the regulation of stress-related survival genes. Our results strongly suggest that the polyvinylpyrrolidone nanoparticles have great potential to be developed into a novel antibacterial compound.

The Application of Curve Fitting on the Voltammograms of Various Isoforms of Metallothioneins-Metal Complexes.

The translation of metallothioneins (MTs) is one of the defense strategies by which organisms protect themselves from metal-induced toxicity. MTs belong to a family of proteins comprising MT-1, MT-2, MT-3, and MT-4 classes, with multiple isoforms within each class. The main aim of this study was to determine the behavior of MT in dependence on various externally modelled environments, using electrochemistry. In our study, the mass distribution of MTs was characterized using MALDI-TOF. After that, adsorptive transfer stripping technique with differential pulse voltammetry was selected for optimization of electrochemical detection of MTs with regard to accumulation time and pH effects. Our results show that utilization of 0.5 M NaCl, pH 6.4, as the supporting electrolyte provides a highly complicated fingerprint, showing a number of non-resolved voltammograms. Hence, we further resolved the voltammograms exhibiting the broad and overlapping signals using curve fitting. The separated signals were assigned to the electrochemical responses of several MT complexes with zinc(II), cadmium(II), and copper(II), respectively. Our results show that electrochemistry could serve as a great tool for metalloproteomic applications to determine the ratio of metal ion bonds within the target protein structure, however, it provides highly complicated signals, which require further resolution using a proper statistical method, such as curve fitting.

Relationship between inner dialog and ideas of reference and the mediating role of dissociation.

Recent lines of research have begun to concentrate on internal dialogue and its relationship to a diversity of psychopathological phenomena present in psychotic disorders. This study was intended as a preliminary exploration of the relationship of internal dialogue, dissociation and ideas of reference. To do this, a sample of 318 students filled in an internal dialogue scale (the VISQ, McCarthy-Jones & Fernyhough), one for dissociation (DES-II, Carlson & Putnam) and another for ideas of reference (REF, Lenzenweger, Bennett & Lilenfeld). The results confirm the hypothesis posed in the sense that internal dialogue was positively associated with dissociation and with ideas of reference. A partial mediation effect of dissociation was also found between inner speech and ideas of reference. Lines of future research this study opens and its possible integration in a model on ideas of reference are discussed.

A two-step protocol for isolation of influenza A (H7N7) virions and their RNA for PCR diagnostics based on modified paramagnetic particles.

Annual epidemics of influenza cause death of hundreds of thousands people and they also have a significant economic impact. Hence, a need for fast and cheap influenza diagnostic method is arising. The conventional methods for an isolation of the viruses are time-consuming and require expensive instrumentation as well as trained personnel. In this study, we modified the surface of nanomaghemite (γ-Fe2 O3 ) paramagnetic core with tetraethyl orthosilicate and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane and the resulting particles were utilized for the isolation of H7N7 influenza virions. Consequently, we designed γ-Fe2 O3 paramagnetic core modified with calcium tripolyphosphate which was employed for the isolation of viral nucleic acid after virion's lysis. Both of these procedures can be performed rapidly in less than 10 min and, in combination with the RT-PCR, the whole influenza detection can be shortened to few hours. Moreover, the whole protocol could be easily automated and/or miniaturized, and thus can serve as a basis for use in a lab-on-a-chip device. We assume that magnetic isolation is an exceptional procedure which can significantly accelerate the diagnostic possibilities of a broad spectrum of diseases.

Vitamin D Status in Pregnancy and Determinants in a Southern European Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Population-based data on vitamin D status in pregnancy in southern European countries are scarce. We assessed the prevalence and determinants of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in pregnancy in Spain. METHODS: Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) concentration was measured at the first trimester of gestation in 2,036 pregnant women from several geographical areas of Spain (latitude 39-42°N). Uni- and multivariable regression models were conducted to identify predictors of circulating 25(OH)D3 concentration and vitamin D insufficiency (20-30 ng/mL) and deficiency (<20 ng/mL). RESULTS: Thirty-one per cent and 18% of women were vitamin D insufficient and deficient, respectively. Season at blood collection, latitude, age, social class, tobacco smoking, physical activity and use of vitamin D supplements were identified as independent determinants of 25(OH)D3 concentration. Lower risk of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency was associated with summer season at blood collection (RR for insufficiency = 0.34, confidence intervals (CI) 0.25, 0.48; and RR for deficiency = 0.07, 95% CI 0.04, 0.12), southern latitude (RR for insufficiency = 0.71, 95% CI 0.50, 1.02; RR for deficiency = 0.60, 95% CI 0.38, 0.94); use of vitamin D supplements (RR for insufficiency = 0.50, 95% CI 0.35, 0.71; RR for deficiency = 0.24, 95% CI 0.14, 0.41); and strong physical activity (RR for insufficiency = 0.80, 95% CI 0.58, 1.09; and RR for deficiency = 0.67, 95% CI 0.46, 1.03). Higher risk of vitamin D deficiency was related to lower social class (RR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.19, 3.16) and smoking (RR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.23, 2.54). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are highly prevalent in pregnancy. Recommendations and policies to detect and prevent hypovitaminosis D during pregnancy should be developed taking into account the associated factors.

Fluorescence Characterization of Gold Modified Liposomes with Antisense N-myc DNA Bound to the Magnetisable Particles with Encapsulated Anticancer Drugs (Doxorubicin, Ellipticine and Etoposide).

Liposome-based drug delivery systems hold great potential for cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to design a nanodevice for targeted anchoring of liposomes (with and without cholesterol) with encapsulated anticancer drugs and antisense N-myc gene oligonucleotide attached to its surface. To meet this main aim, liposomes with encapsulated doxorubicin, ellipticine and etoposide were prepared. They were further characterized by measuring their fluorescence intensity, whereas the encapsulation efficiency was estimated to be 16%. The hybridization process of individual oligonucleotides forming the nanoconstruct was investigated spectrophotometrically and electrochemically. The concentrations of ellipticine, doxorubicin and etoposide attached to the nanoconstruct in gold nanoparticle-modified liposomes were found to be 14, 5 and 2 µg·mL(-1), respectively. The study succeeded in demonstrating that liposomes are suitable for the transport of anticancer drugs and the antisense oligonucleotide, which can block the expression of the N-myc gene.

Specific Magnetic Isolation of E6 HPV16 Modified Magnetizable Particles Coupled with PCR and Electrochemical Detection.

The majority of carcinomas that were developed due to the infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) are caused by high-risk HPV types, HPV16 and HPV18. These HPV types contain the E6 and E7 oncogenes, so the fast detection of these oncogenes is an important point to avoid the development of cancer. Many different HPV tests are available to detect the presence of HPV in biological samples. The aim of this study was to design a fast and low cost method for HPV identification employing magnetic isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electrochemical detection. These assays were developed to detect the interactions between E6-HPV16 oncogene and magnetizable particles (MPs) using commercial Dynabeads M-280 Streptavidin particles and laboratory-synthesized "homemade" particles called MANs (MAN-37, MAN-127 and MAN-164). The yields of PCR amplification of E6-HPV16 oncogene bound on the particles and after the elution from the particles were compared. A highest yield of E6-HPV16 DNA isolation was obtained with both MPs particles commercial M-280 Streptavidin and MAN-37 due to reducing of the interferents compared with the standard PCR method. A biosensor employing the isolation of E6-HPV16 oncogene with MPs particles followed by its electrochemical detection can be a very effective technique for HPV identification, providing simple, sensitive and cost-effective analysis.

Dissociation and mindfulness in patients with auditory verbal hallucinations.

The very few studies relating mindfulness and dissociation have found a negative association between them (depersonalization and absorption). However, all of these studies have been done in nonclinical populations, and there are no data on the relationship between these variables in psychiatric patients with auditory hallucinations. This study was designed to study the relationship between mindfulness and the two dissociative variables, absorption and depersonalization, as well as their predictive power for the severity of auditory hallucinations and the distress they cause in a clinical population. A total of 55 psychiatric patients with hallucinations were given the following tests: the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (K. Brown & R. Ryan, 2003), the Tellegen Absorption Scale (A. Tellegen & G. Atkinson, 1974), the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (M. Sierra & G. E. Berrios, 2000), the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (G. Haddock, J. McCarron, N. Tarrier, & E. B. Faragher, 1999), and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (S. R. Kay, L. A. Opler, & J.-P. Lindenmayer, 1988). A significant negative correlation was found between mindfulness and the dissociative variables and between mindfulness and the distress caused by the hallucinations. A positive correlation was found between absorption and distress caused by hallucinations and between depersonalization and the severity of hallucinations. Finally, the variable with the most predictive power for severity of the voices was depersonalization, and the variable with the most predictive power for distress caused by the voices was mindfulness. Interventions addressing training in mindfulness techniques could diminish the distress associated with hearing voices.

Transfer of perfluoroalkyl substances from mother to fetus in a Spanish birth cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) might affect child health; thus estimating PFAS fetal burden is relevant. PFAS fetal burden is best estimated in cord samples; previous studies have used either maternal plasma or serum during pregnancy as proxy, but their validity is not clear. We aimed to evaluate PFAS transfer between mother and fetus and determine its predictors in a Spanish birth cohort. METHODS: We measured perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) in maternal blood and cord serum from 66 mother-child pairs. We used Spearman's rank coefficients to correlate PFAS concentrations in first trimester maternal plasma and serum, with cord serum samples. We assessed PFAS placental transfer by calculating maternal to cord ratios and examined their association with maternal socio-demographic characteristics and child sex using linear regression models. RESULTS: Median concentrations of PFAS (ng/mL) of PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA in maternal plasma (0.79, 6.18, 2.85 and 0.84, respectively) and serum (0.84, 6.99, 2.97 and 0.85) were higher than in cord serum (0.40, 1.86, 1.90 and 0.32). PFBS was not detected. Positive Spearman's correlations (p-values<0.001) were found between maternal plasma and serum (⍴≥0.80), maternal plasma and cord (⍴≥0.66), and maternal serum and cord samples (⍴≥0.67). Maternal plasma to cord ratios were above 1 (PFHxS: 2.35 [95%CI: 2.05, 2.70], PFOS: 3.33 [3.05, 3.62], PFOA: 1.37 [1.27, 1.48], PFNA: 2.39 [2.18, 2.63]); maternal serum to cord ratios were similar. Maternal to cord ratios decreased with maternal age, but not with other socio-demographic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that PFAS fetal body burden can be assessed using as proxy maternal plasma or serum collected early in pregnancy. Maternal age might influence PFAS placental transfer.

Metallothionein-3 is a multifunctional driver that modulates the development of sorafenib-resistant phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Metallothionein-3 (hMT3) is a structurally unique member of the metallothioneins family of low-mass cysteine-rich proteins. hMT3 has poorly characterized functions, and its importance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the molecular mechanisms driven by hMT3 with a special emphasis on susceptibility to sorafenib. METHODS: Intrinsically sorafenib-resistant (BCLC-3) and sensitive (Huh7) cells with or without up-regulated hMT3 were examined using cDNA microarray and methods aimed at mitochondrial flux, oxidative status, cell death, and cell cycle. In addition, in ovo/ex ovo chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays were conducted to determine a role of hMT3 in resistance to sorafenib and associated cancer hallmarks, such as angiogenesis and metastastic spread. Molecular aspects of hMT3-mediated induction of sorafenib-resistant phenotype were delineated using mass-spectrometry-based proteomics. RESULTS: The phenotype of sensitive HCC cells can be remodeled into sorafenib-resistant one via up-regulation of hMT3. hMT3 has a profound effect on mitochondrial respiration, glycolysis, and redox homeostasis. Proteomic analyses revealed a number of hMT3-affected biological pathways, including exocytosis, glycolysis, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and cellular stress, which drive resistance to sorafenib. CONCLUSIONS: hMT3 acts as a multifunctional driver capable of inducing sorafenib-resistant phenotype of HCC cells. Our data suggest that hMT3 and related pathways could serve as possible druggable targets to improve therapeutic outcomes in patients with sorafenib-resistant HCC.

Relationship of absorption, depersonalisation, and self-focused attention in subjects with and without hallucination proneness.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this work was to study the relationship of absorption, depersonalisation, and self-focused attention in subjects prone to hallucination. METHODS: A sample of 218 healthy subjects was given the LSHS-R Hallucination Scale (Bentall & Slade, 1985). Three groups, subjects with high, medium, and low hallucination proneness, were formed from this sample. The Tellegen Absorption Scale (TAS; Tellegen & Atkinson, 1974), Cambridge Depersonalisation Scale (CDS; Sierra & Berrios, 2000), and Self-Absorption Scale (SAS; McKenzie & Hoyle, 2008) were also given to all the participants. The Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30; Wells & Cartwright-Hatton, 2004) was used as a covariant to control for the effects of emotional vulnerability on the dependent variables studied. RESULTS: The results showed that subjects highly prone to hallucinations had significantly higher absorption, depersonalisation, and self-focused attention than the subjects in the other two groups. A hierarchical regression analysis showed that absorption and depersonalisation predict hallucination proneness. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of the absorption, depersonalisation, and self-focused attention variables for understanding the aetiology of hallucinations is discussed in the Conclusions, where some approaches to its treatment are also suggested.

Al-Pt compounds catalyzing the oxygen evolution reaction.

Al-Pt compounds have been systematically studied as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Considering the harsh oxidative conditions of the OER, all Al-Pt compounds undergo modifications during electrochemical experiments. However, the degree of changes strongly depends on the composition and crystal structure of a compound. In contrast to Al-rich compounds (Al4Pt and Al21Pt8), which reveal strong leaching of aluminum, changes in other compounds (Al2Pt, Al3Pt2, rt-AlPt, Al3Pt5, and rt-AlPt3) take place only on the surface or in the near-surface region. Furthermore, surface modification leads to a change in the electronic structure of Pt, giving rise to the in situ formation of catalytically more active surfaces, which are composed of intermetallic compounds, Pt-rich AlxPt1-x phases and Pt oxides. Forming a compromise between sufficient OER activity and stability, Al2Pt and Al3Pt2 can be considered as precursors for OER electrocatalysts.

Spanish adaptation of the scale of psychological empowerment in the workplace.

The objective of this study is to adapt and translate into Spanish Spreitzer's Psychological Empowerment Scale (1995a). A process of translation and reverse-translation was applied to the scale's items, whose psychometric properties were then examined using a sample of 272 professional nurses at public hospitals in the province of Seville. The data were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis. The significance of the factor loadings demonstrated the need to create a new model eliminating one item. The 11-item model was shown to possess adequate construct validity and internal consistency. The results confirm the original, four-factor structure obtained by Spreitzer, with the exception of item 10, and support the utilization of the Spanish version of this scale in the workplace. Future research should more extensively investigate its construct validity, and test the nomological network of the operationalized construct within the field of psychological well-being and in the context of the workplace.

Extending the Applicability of In Ovo and Ex Ovo Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane Assays to Study Cytostatic Activity in Neuroblastoma Cells.

PURPOSE: The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay can provide an alternative versatile, cost-effective, and ethically less controversial in vivo model for reliable screening of drugs. In the presented work, we demonstrate that CAM assay (in ovo and ex ovo) can be simply employed to delineate the effects of cisplatin (CDDP) and ellipticine (Elli) on neuroblastoma (Nbl) cells in terms of their growth and metastatic potential. METHODS: The Nbl UKF-NB-4 cell line was established from recurrent bone marrow metastases of high-risk Nbl (stage IV, MYCN amplification, 7q21 gain). Ex ovo and in ovo CAM assays were optimized to evaluate the antimetastatic activity of CDDP and Elli. Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and DNA isolation were performed. RESULTS: Ex ovo CAM assay was employed to study whether CDDP and Elli exhibit any inhibitory effects on growth of Nbl xenograft in ex ovo CAM assay. Under the optimal conditions, Elli and CDDP exhibited significant inhibition of the size of the primary tumor. To study the efficiency of CDDP and Elli to inhibit primary Nbl tumor growth, intravasation, and extravasation in the organs, we adapted the in ovo CAM assay protocol. In in ovo CAM assay, both studied compounds (CDDP and Elli) exhibited significant (p < 0.001) inhibitory activity against extravasation to all investigated organs including distal CAM. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, CAM assay could be a helpful and highly efficient in vivo approach for high-throughput screening of libraries of compounds with expected anticancer activities.

Tibial brown tumor as a presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism / [Tumor pardo tibial como forma de presentación de un hiperparatiroidismo primario]

Cystic fibrous osteitis is a complication of a very evolved hyperparathyroidism. Because the determination of calcium, parathyroid hormone and vitamin D have become routine studies, this bone complication is uncommon in western countries. However, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia and lytic bone lesions. The treatment is to suppress the excess parathyroid hormone by parathyroidectomy and osteosynthesis in pathological fracture. We present the case of a female patient with primary hyperparathyroidism and a brown tumor in the right tibia.

La osteítis fibrosa quística es la complicación de un hiperparatiroidismo muy evolucionado. Debido a que la determinación del calcio, hormona paratiroides y vitamina D han pasado a ser estudios rutinarios, esta complicación ósea es infrecuente en los países occidentales. Sin embargo, debe ser considerada en el diagnóstico diferencial de hipercalcemia y lesiones óseas líticas. El tratamiento de esta entidad va dirigido a suprimir el exceso de hormona paratiroides mediante la paratiroidectomia y osteosíntesis en los casos de fracturas patológicas. Se presenta el caso de una paciente con hiperparatiroidismo primario y un tumor pardo en la tibia derecha.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale to the Adult Spanish Population (HSPS-S).

PURPOSE: This article describes a cross-cultural adaptation of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) to the adult Spanish population, and psychometric analysis of its validation and reliability. METHODS: Convenience sampling by participant accessibility was used. The original version was adapted culturally and linguistically using the back-translation method, and a pilot study was done with 88 participants. Data processing and analysis was performed with the SPSS v.25 and LISREL v.9.2 statistical packages. The psychometric properties were studied in a sample of 8358 participants using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, and examining factorial invariance and internal consistency. RESULTS: The results confirmed a Spanish version with 27 items in five-dimensions: sensitivity to overstimulation (SOS), aesthetic sensitivity (AES), low sensory threshold (LST), fine psychophysiological discrimination (FPD) and harm avoidance (HA). Invariance across gender of this factor structure was demonstrated and reliability indices were good. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that the HSPS is an appropriate tool for evaluating high sensitivity in the adult Spanish population.