Unlocking the potential of self-healing and recyclable ionic elastomers for soft robotics applications.

In the field of soft robotics, current materials face challenges related to their load capacity, durability, and sustainability. Innovative solutions are required to address these problems beyond conventional strategies, which often lack long-term ecological viability. This study aims to overcome these limitations using mechanically robust, self-healing, and recyclable ionic elastomers based on carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR). The designed materials exhibited excellent mechanical properties, including tensile strengths (TS) exceeding 19 MPa and remarkable deformability, with maximum elongations (EB) over 650%. Moreover, these materials showed high self-healing capabilities, with 100% recovery efficiency of TS and EB at 110 °C after 3 to 5 h, and full recyclability, preserving their mechanical performance even after three recycling cycles. Furthermore, they were also moldable and readily scalable. Tendon-driven soft robotic grippers were successfully developed out of ionic elastomers, illustrating the potential of self-healing and recyclability in the field of soft robotics to reduce maintenance costs, increase material durability, and improve sustainability.

Seroconversion and Abundance of IgG Antibodies against S1-RBD of SARS-CoV-2 and Neutralizing Activity in the Chilean Population.

COVID-19 is a pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. In Chile, half a million people have been infected and more than 16,000 have died from COVID-19. As part of the clinical trial NCT04384588, we quantified IgG against S1-RBD of SARS-CoV-2 (anti-RBD) in recovered people in Santiago and evaluated their suitability as COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors. ELISA and a luminescent SARS-CoV-2 pseudotype were used for IgG and neutralizing antibody quantification. 72.9% of the convalescent population (468 of 639) showed seroconversion (5-55 µg/mL anti-RBD IgG) and were suitable candidates for plasma donation. Analysis by gender, age, and days after symptom offset did not show significant differences. Neutralizing activity correlated with an increased concentration of anti-RBD IgG (p < 0.0001) and showed a high variability between donors. We confirmed that the majority of the Chilean patients have developed anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The quantification of anti-RBD IgG in convalescent plasma donors is necessary to increase the detection of neutralizing antibodies.

Molecular characterization of a patient with 3p deletion syndrome and a review of the literature.

3p deletion syndrome is a rare disorder involving developmental delay, dysmorphic physical features, and growth retardation. Molecular mapping of several cases in the literature have identified a critical region on chromosome 3p26. We present a child patient with characteristic features of 3p deletion syndrome and a de novo unbalanced translocation involving chromosomes 3 and 13. Fine mapping of this rearrangement using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) revealed an unbalanced abnormality including a 4.5 Mb terminal deletion of chromosome 3p, telomeric to ITPR1 on 3p26.2, which was not previously identified with routine cytogenetic analysis. In addition, these investigations confirmed and refined the boundaries of a 26.5 Mb deletion of chromosome 13. This study confirms the minimal candidate region for 3p deletion syndrome, provides further evidence implicating haploinsufficiency of CNTN4 in the disorder, and demonstrates the utility of high-resolution investigations of rare chromosomal rearrangements.

Increased monooxygenase activity associated with resistance to permethrin in Pediculus humanus capitis (Anoplura: Pediculidae) from Argentina.

We studied the profile of permethrin resistance in populations of head lice infesting children 6-12 yr old in schools and their homes in and around Buenos Aires, Argentina. Five permethrin-resistant populations with different levels of resistance were collected: Hogar Loyola (HL), Republica de Turquia (RT), Hogar Mitre (HM), Guardia de Honor (GH), and Ricardo Guiraldes (RG). One susceptible population, Bandera Argentina (BA), also was collected. Their level of resistance was evaluated, and results showed resistance ratios of 13 for HL, 16 for RT, 22 for HM, 61 for GH, and 69 for RG. To elucidate the possible involvement of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system in conferring permethrin resistance, ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD) activity was measured in abdomens of individual third instars and adults by using a fluorometric assay. The ECOD activity was lower in the susceptible BA population (4.7 ng per louse) than in the resistant ones (13.7 ng per louse for RG, 12.3 ng per louse for GH, 8.6 ng per louse for RT, and 8.2 ng per louse for HL). ECOD activity was significantly correlated with the level of resistance in the field populations (r = 0.97, P = 0.0009), suggesting a role for cytochrome monooxygenase P450 system in permethrin resistance by head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer.

[Multicenter study of atenolol, combined with hydralazine and bendroflumethiazide in the treatment of essential, mild, and severe, arterial hypertension]. / Estudio multicéntrico del atenolol, asociado con hidralazina y bendroflumetiazida en el tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial esencial, moderada y severa.

The aim of the present study was to determine both the effectiveness and tolerance of a preparation constituted by the combination at fixed doses of a betablocker (atenolol, 100 mg), a diuretic (bendroflumethiazide, 5 mg) and a vasodilator (hydralazine, 50 mg). The study was carried out on a sample formed by 46 patients with moderate or severe essential hypertension who received this preparation as a single antihypertensive therapy during 2 months. As for the hypotensive effectiveness of the product, obtained results demonstrate that arterial blood pressure (BP) levels were normalized in 89% of the patients with moderate essential hypertension and in 9/10 patients with severe hypertension. Tolerance was excellent in most of the cases. Although new studies should be performed in order to enlarge the number of available case-studies, the above presented data allow us to conclude with a positive opinion about the studied combination.

La bioética como eje transversal en el pensum de estudio de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad del Zulia Venezuela / Bioethics mainstreaming in the curriculum of study at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Zulia Venezuela

Se realizó una investigación descriptiva con el propósito de constatar la inserción de la bioética desde la perspectiva de la transversalidad curricular en las unidades curriculares de la carrera Odontología de la Universidad del Zulia, durante el periodo académico anual 2010, a través de la presencia de contenidos y objetivos bioéticos y relacionando los objetivos generales de la carrera con los terminales de las unidades curriculares. Se trata de un diseño de investigación de fuente documental, transeccional, contemporáneo y univariable; la población de estudio estuvo conformada por las unidades curriculares del primero al quinto año de la carrera; la muestra fue de tipo censal. Se emplearon técnicas de revisión documental. Para el procesamiento de los datos se utilizó el programa estadístico SPSS, versión 14. Al analizar los resultados se observó que el 80% de los programas de las asignaturas no presentan contenidos bioéticos, sólo el 20% lo expresa como propósito de la unidad curricular, el 27,5% como objetivo general de la asignatura, el 30% como objetivos terminales, el 10% de las materias presentan objetivos específicos actitudinales, el 12,5% lo presentan cognitivos y el 10% de naturaleza procedimental. En conclusión, la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad del Zulia presenta la bioética como eje transversal, sin embargo, aun no se observa la inserción plena de la misma en todas las unidades curriculares del Pensum de Estudio

Descriptive research was conducted in order to verify the inclusion of bioethics from the perspective of the transversal axis in the curricular units of the Dentistry School of the University of Zulia, during the academic year 2010, through of contents and bioethical objectives, relating the generals and teminals objectives of the curricular units. The design of research was created from a mixed-source (field and documentary), transactional univariate contemporary, the study population consisted of curriculum units from first to fifth year of the carrer of dentistry, the sample was of census type, were used techniques of document review and interview. For data processing we used the statistical program SPSS, version 14. The analysis of the results showed that 80% of programs have no bioethical contents, only 20% expresses them as the purpose of the curricular unit, 27,5% expresses them as general objectives, 30% as terminal objectives, 10% of the subjects as attitudinal specific objectives, 12,5% has cognitive objectives and 10% procedural. In conclusion, Dentistry School of the University of Zulia presents the bioethics as a transversal axis, however, still is not observed the full insertion of the same in all curricular units of study Pensum

Multinucleate cell angiohistiocytoma: a new case report.

Multinucleate cell angiohistiocytoma (MCAH) was first described by Smith and Wilson-Jones in 1985. It is an uncommon entity but probably underdiagnosed because of lack of recognition by clinicians and pathologists. We report a 47-year-old man with asymptomatic grouped violaceous papules on the dorsum of the hands for 3 years. The histopathological and immunopathological features of our case revealed characteristics of MCAH similar to the initial description of Smith and Wilson-Jones and other reports.

[Cytology and biopsy by fine needle aspiration with ultrasound guidance in abdominal tumors]. / Citología y biopsia por aspiración con aguja fina guiadas por ultrasonido en tumores abdominales.

To determine the value of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) we selected 53 patients with liver, pancreas and other abdominal tumors, their diagnosis was made on clinical and ultrasound grounds, we performed FNAB in all these patients. The specimens were sent for cytology and histopathology. 33 out of 53 cases were reported as liver cancer: true positives: 29, false negative 2, and true negatives: 2, for sensibility; 93% specificity: 100%. 15 cases were pancreatic cancer, true positives: 11, true negatives: 3; with 1 false negative, sensibility 91%; specificity 100%. 5 cases were tumors from other abdominal cavity locations (true positives: 3, false negatives: 2; sensibility: 60% specificity: 100%. All these results were well correlated with surgery, clinical follow up and other diagnostic methods ERCP, CT, Laparoscopy. We conclude (FNAB) has a high sensibility and specificity and should be used as a routine procedure in the study of abdominal tumors. No false positive was reported.

Penetration of antibiotic into interstitial tissue fluid following parenteral administration of lysine cephalexin.

Serum and interstitial fluid levels of antibiotic have been measured at various times following i.m. administration of equivalent doses of lysine cephalexin and sodium ampicillin, in a cross-over design, to dogs fitted with s.c. implanted silastic "tissue cages" and the results subjected to pharmacokinetic analysis. Serum concentrations of cephalexin were consistently higher than those of ampicillin and elimination half-lives were calculated as 1.73 h and 0.87 h, respectively. The rate of appearance of cephalexin in the interstitial fluid (Ka 1.741 h-1 was faster than that for ampicillin (Ka 0.946 h-1) and the maximum concentration obtained also proved to be higher. The half-life of cephalexin in the interstitial fluid (6.79 h) was almost four times longer than that in serum whereas that of ampicillin (2.03 h) was only a little more than twice as long. As a consequence a greater concentration and retention in interstitial fluid was obtained with cephalexin at all times tested. Since the interstitial fluid levels of cephalexin were still relatively high 8-12 h after the administration of a single dose repeated administration of lysine cephalexin 2 or 3 times daily is expected to result in a beneficial accumulation of cephalexin in the interstitial fluid.

[Acute pancreatitis: the value of ultrasonography in its prognosis]. / Pancreatitis aguda: valor de la ultrasonografía en el pronóstico.

As acute pancreatitis is a disease of unpredictable outcome, we wanted to use an available diagnostic method such as ultrasonography, in order to establish the prognosis of this problem. There are some published papers using CT scan as prognostic value of this disease but none about ultrasonography. We evaluated 34 patients with clinical diagnosis of acute pancreatitis based on abdominal pain, nausea, vomits and absence of abdominal sounds plus an elevation of amylases of at least three times above the normal value. An abdominal ultrasound was performed at admission and every 4 days or even sooner if complications were suspected. Acute pancreatitis was classified by clinic and ultrasound in mild, moderate and severe. From 34 patients studied, 27 were clinically and by ultrasound correlated (79%) giving a sensibility of 100% and a specificity of 85%, without false positives. There were some cases in which ultrasound detected abnormalities before clinical manifestations, so a close follow up was done and this allowed us to be ready if any complications showed up. Follow up with ultrasound examination was very useful, permitted us to detect early complications with or without clinical manifestations and also emphasized that a single ultrasound examination is not enough as a prognostic or diagnostic method.

Use of high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection after a primary drug screening in patients admitted to the emergency department.

Two hundred fifty samples of patients admitted to the Emergency Department at the Hospital Municipal de Urgencias, Córdoba, Argentina for a drug screening by HPTLC, FPIA, spectrophotometric methods, and HPLC/DAD were randomly selected. The rate of positive screens was 34.0% with the following rate distribution: 12.0% alcohol, 13.6% nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), 2.0% anticonvulsants, 0.8% barbiturates, 0.4% narcotics, 0.4% antidepressants, 2.8% cocaine, and 2.0% cannabinoids. Psychoactive drugs (alcohol, cocaine, and cannabinoids) were detected in 43.9% of the patients admitted for traffic accidents, namely 35.71% alcohol, 2.38% alcohol-cocaine, 2.38% alcohol-cannabinoids, 2.38% cocaine-cannabinoids, and 2.38% alcohol-cocaine-cannabinoids. These results help identify the trend of use and/or abuse of drugs and its relationship with different causes of admission (accidents, overdose, and other pathologies), age, and gender.

Indicadores de calidad en la gestión del personal / Quality indicators in personnel management

El desarrollo de sistemas de evaluación que midan el desempeño y motiven al cumplimiento de las metas institucionales es fundamental en la gestión del personal. Nuestro centro ha desarrollado indicadores de calidad y productividad que pueden ser utilizados con este fin. La reducción de la capacidad instalada, de dos a un tomógrafo computado y de cinco a cuatro salas de radiología convencional, además de los distintos cambios en los procesos, hicieron imprescindible un aumento en las competencias del personal de las unidades involucradas.