Sensitivity of PM10 oxidative potential to aerosol chemical composition at a Mediterranean urban site: ascorbic acid versus dithiothreitol measurements.

The oxidative potential (OP) of PM10 daily samples collected at a traffic site in southeastern Spain during summer and winter was assessed by two acellular assays: the ascorbic acid (AA) and dithiothreitol (DTT) methods. Although PM10 levels were similar during both periods, OP values (expressed in nmol min-1 m-3) showed a defined seasonal trend. The AA activity was higher in summer than in winter, whereas the DTT reactivity exhibited an opposite seasonal pattern. Both assays were sensitive to different PM10 components, as shown by the results of the linear correlation analysis. Moreover, the relationship between OP values and PM10 chemical species was not the same during summer and winter, indicating that particle toxicity is associated with different sources during the warm and cold seasons. When OP values were expressed on a mass basis (nmol min-1 µg-1), lower correlation coefficients with PM10 chemical species were generally obtained compared to volume-normalized activities. These outcomes suggest that only some specific components have a significant intrinsic oxidative potential. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11869-023-01332-1.

[Recommendations for the use of neurophysiological techniques in the diagnosis of brain death from the Clinical Neurophysiology Society of the Communities of Valencia and Murcia]. / Recomendaciones para el empleo de técnicas neurofisiológicas en el diagnóstico de muerte encefálica de la Sociedad de Neurofisiología Clínica de las Comunidades de Valencia y Murcia.

In Spain organ transplantation constitutes one of the greatest challenges and teamwork of hospital centres. It is estimated that in the year 2020 Spain contributed 19% of all donors to the European Union. The confirmatory support diagnosis recommends by law some complementary techniques in certain cases, including neurophysiological techniques, especially the use of electroencephalogram and evoked potentials. These cases require the clinical neurophysiologist to make the right clinical and technical decisions for the correct performance and interpretation of the same. To date, there is no national consensus on the performance of these techniques. Updated bibliographic review on neurophysiological techniques (electroencephalogram and evoked potentials). Analysis by Delphi method and expert judgment of the working group of the Clinical Neurophysiology Society of the Communities of Valencia and Murcia. Neurophysiological techniques can be a support in the diagnosis of encephalic death, both confirmatory and to shorten observation times. In order to perform them, minimum technical standards are required to allow optimal performance of the studies, especially taking into account medication, hemodynamic situation, absence of hypothermia, and age group. We present the first guide in Spanish elaborated by the Society of Neurophysiology of the Communities of Valencia and Murcia for the performance in our hospitals of neurophysiological techniques in the diagnosis of brain death.

TITLE: Recomendaciones para el empleo de técnicas neurofisiológicas en el diagnóstico de muerte encefálica de la Sociedad de Neurofisiología Clínica de las Comunidades de Valencia y Murcia.En España, el trasplante de órganos constituye uno de los mayores retos y trabajo en equipo de los centros hospitalarios. Se estima que en 2020 España aportó a la Unión Europea el 19% de la totalidad de los donantes. El diagnóstico de apoyo confirmatorio recomienda por ley algunas técnicas complementarias en determinados casos, entre ellas las técnicas neurofisiológicas, en especial el uso del electroencefalograma y los potenciales evocados. Estos casos plantean al neurofisiólogo clínico la toma acertada de decisiones tanto clínicas como técnicas para su correcta realización e interpretación. Hasta ahora no existe a nivel nacional un consenso de realización de estas técnicas. Es una revisión bibliográfica actualizada sobre las técnicas neurofisiológicas (electroencefalograma y potenciales evocados), con análisis mediante método Delphi y juicio de expertos del grupo de trabajo de la Sociedad de Neurofisiología Clínica de las Comunidades de Valencia y Murcia. Las técnicas neurofisiológicas permiten ser un apoyo en el diagnóstico de muerte encefálica, tanto de forma confirmatoria como para acortar tiempos de observación. Para su realización se precisan unos mínimos estándares técnicos que permitan realizar de forma óptima los estudios. Especialmente hay que tener en cuenta la medicación, la situación hemodinámica, la ausencia de hipotermia y el grupo de edad. Presentamos la primera guía en castellano elaborada por la Sociedad de Neurofisiología de las Comunidades de Valencia y Murcia para la realización en nuestros hospitales de las técnicas neurofisiológicas en el diagnóstico de muerte encefálica.

Size segregated ionic species collected in a harbour area.

Water-soluble ions were analysed in size segregated aerosol samples collected in the port of Alicante (Southeastern Spain) during summer and winter using a multistage cascade impactor. Seasonal variations in the size distributions of the analysed components and the influence of bulk materials handling (loading/unloading and stockpiling) at the docks were investigated. The size distributions of SO42-, NH4+ and K+ were characterized by prominent peaks in the condensation and droplet modes, both in summer and winter, while those of Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+ and Cl- had a main peak centred at ∼4 µm. Although oxalate size distributions were similar during both seasons, the fraction of coarse-mode oxalate increased in summer most likely as a result of volatilization and repartition processes or reactions of oxalic acid with coarse alkaline particles. Nitrate size distributions were dominated by a coarse mode; however, during winter, modal peaks in the submicron size range were also observed due to favourable conditions for the formation of fine-mode NH4NO3. Harbour activities had a significant impact only on the concentrations of calcium, particularly in the coarse fraction, during both summer and winter.

Quantification of the impact of port activities on PM10 levels at the port-city boundary of a mediterranean city.

The main objective of this work was to quantify the impact of handling of bulk materials on PM10 levels measured at the port-city border of Alicante (Spain), located on the western Mediterranean coast. To achieve that goal, 355 PM10 samples were collected at the perimeter of the harbor of Alicante from March 2017 to February 2018. A 181 sample subgroup was chemically characterized in order to perform a source apportionment study with the EPA PMF 5.0 model. Eight factors were identified, two of them directly related to the handling of bulk materials (Limestone + gypsum and Clinker), accounting jointly for 35% of the average PM10 concentration. A Road traffic factor was the second highest contributor to PM10 levels (17%) while the Shipping emissions factor accounted for only 6% of the average PM10 mass. Other factors such as Biomass burning+ secondary nitrate and Aged sea salt represented a joint contribution of 25% of the PM10 mass. Results indicate that emission abatement strategies should primarily focus on the reduction of fugitive emissions caused by the handling of bulk materials at the docks. Moreover, scenarios including reductions of more than 50% in bulk handling sources and 10% in other anthropogenic sources would help to reduce anthropogenic exceedances of the daily PM10 limit (50 µg·m-3) and to approach to WHO daily PM10 standard (20 µg m-3).

Insights into the origin and evolution of carbonaceous aerosols in a mediterranean urban environment.

Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) concentrations were measured in PM1 and PM10 daily samples collected at an urban station in Elche (southeastern Spain) from February 2015 to February 2018. The effect of seasonal weather conditions, traffic, and specific pollution events (Saharan dust outbreaks and local pollution episodes) on the variability of carbonaceous aerosol levels was studied in this work. The joint contribution of carbonaceous species to PM1 and PM10 mass concentrations was, respectively, 48% and 26%. Both OC and EC concentrations were higher in winter than in summer because of the poor dispersion conditions and lower temperatures leading to the condensation of semivolatile species. Secondary organic carbon (SOC), estimated using the EC tracer method, also exhibited higher concentrations during winter, indicating that the prevailing meteorological conditions during the cold season are more favorable for the formation of secondary organic aerosols. Our results suggest different formation pathways of secondary organic components during summer and winter. At the sampling site, EC was primarily derived from traffic emissions, independently of the season and the type of event, with a modest contribution from biomass burning (<20%). The estimated contribution from this source to OC levels was similar. Local pollution episodes lead to a significant increase in the concentrations of carbonaceous species, in particular of SOC, influencing its temporal variation. On average, African dust outbreaks showed a moderate impact on the levels of carbonaceous aerosols; however, the effect was significantly stronger during winter Saharan events.

[Study of patient satisfaction when performing an ultrasound in Primary Care]. / Estudio de satisfacción del paciente ante la realización de una ecografía en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the level of patient satisfaction when undergoing a diagnostic ultrasound by a family doctor. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was conducted in two health centres in Madrid, between December 2015 and March 2016. An anonymous questionnaire was used, consisting of two parts: one in-house prepared that included the socio-demographic variables, and an adaptation to the study objectives of the "survey of satisfaction of users of health centres" included in the document "Evaluation of the satisfaction of users of public health care services of the Community of Madrid" by the General Directorate of Coordination for Citizen Services and Humanisation of Health Care, Ministry of Health of Madrid, 2014. POPULATION: Patients on whom their family doctor performed an ultrasound for diagnostic purposes. Patients completed the questionnaire after 15 to 30 days, thus minimising the authority bias. The sample was obtained by consecutive non-probabilistic sampling. RESULTS: The level of "satisfied-very satisfied" reached 95%, with the approval of the family doctor compared with the hospital specialist performing the ultrasound. The health centre would be chosen by 92% if they had to undergo an ultrasound for a second time, 96% would recommend it to third parties, and 95% considered that their expectations were met. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of a diagnostic ultrasound by family doctors was evaluated with a high level of satisfaction by the patients. There are no comparable studies in the Primary Care field, and multicentre studies would be needed in order to generalise the results obtained.

Characterization of metals in PM1 and PM10 and health risk evaluation at an urban site in the western Mediterranean.

PM1 and PM10 samples collected in the urban center of Elche during two years were analyzed by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence in order to determine the concentrations of the following metals: K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr and Ba. The influence of traffic and Saharan dust intrusions on PM levels and metal content was studied in this work. The results indicate that the coarse fraction was affected more by variations in traffic intensity than the submicron fraction. The concentrations of Ca, commonly used as a tracer of road dust, showed the highest decreases during the weekends due to the reduction in traffic-induced resuspension. In contrast, Saharan events had a greater impact on the levels of other metals such as Ti and Fe, significantly affecting their seasonal variability. High concentrations of V and Ni compared with the values found at larger urban areas were observed. This could be attributed to a significant contribution from soils, Saharan dust and even ship emissions. Enrichment factors calculated using Ti as a reference element indicate that Zn and Cu are predominantly emitted by anthropogenic activities. In fact, Saharan dust intrusions had a minor influence on the average concentrations of these metals. Non-carcinogenic health hazards associated with exposure to airborne metals were lower than the safety threshold (hazard quotient < 1). Carcinogenic risks for Cr (VI) and Ni were between 10-6 and 10-4 and, therefore, within the range considered acceptable by the US EPA.

Temporal variations of PM1 major components in an urban street canyon.

Seasonal changes in the levels of PM1 and its main components (organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), SO4 (2-), NO3 (-) and NH4 (+)) were studied in an urban street canyon in southeastern Spain. Although PM1 levels did not show an evident seasonal cycle, strong variations in the concentrations of its major components were observed. Ammonium sulfate, the main secondary inorganic compound, was found to be of regional origin. Its formation was favored during summer due to increased photochemical activity. In contrast, the concentrations of particulate ammonium nitrate, which is thermally unstable, were highest in winter. Although traffic emissions are the dominant source of EC in the city, variations in traffic intensity could not explain the seasonal cycle of this component. The higher EC concentrations during the cold months were attributed to the lower dispersion conditions and the increase in EC emissions. Special attention has been given to variations in organic carbon levels since it accounted for about one third of the total PM1 mass. The concentrations of both total OC and secondary OC (SOC) were maxima in winter. The observed seasonal variation in SOC levels is similar to that found in other southern European cities where the frequency of sunny days in winter is high enough to promote photochemical processes.

What a difference two days make: "personalized" embryo transfer (pET) paradigm: a case report and pilot study.

Embryo implantation requires that the blastocyst will attach during the receptive stage of the endometrium, known as window of implantation (WOI). Historically, it has been assumed that the WOI is always constant in all women. However, molecular analyses of endometrial receptivity demonstrates a personalized WOI (pWOI) that is displaced in one out of four patients suffering from recurrent implantation failure (RIF) of endometrial origin and illustrates the utility of a personalized endometrial diagnostic approach. Here, we report a clinical case of successful personalized embryo transfer (pET) after four IVF and three oocyte donation failed attempts in which different embryo transfer strategies were attempted. This case report is complemented by a pilot study of 17 patients undergoing oocyte donation and who suffered failed implantations with routine embryo transfer (ET) but were then treated with pET after the personalized diagnosis of their WOI.

Effects of bee products on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in the rat.

Bee products (BP) have been used for centuries as a diet complement with claimed curative properties. The aim of this study was to determine whether oral administration of BP prevented behavioral, histological, and biochemical alterations, caused by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced kindling in rats. Male Wistar rats were employed to evaluate seizure latency, number and duration, performance in the open field test, histological alterations and mortality following BP administration. Oral administration of BP at two doses, 30 and 60 mg/kg/day, significantly lengthened latency of both clonic and tonic PTZ-induced seizures, decreased the duration and frequency of seizures and reduced mortality. In the Open Field test, BP treated groups showed increases in the number of crossed squares and rearing counts, and on optimal dose, decreases in fecal boli. Histological analysis showed in PTZ (50 and 80 mg/kg) kindling rats, lungs with inflammatory peribronchiolar, and perialveolar infiltrates. In the liver, mild losses of trabeculae, multi-vesiculated hepatocytes (steatosis) and inflammatory infiltrates in hepatic parenchyma were observed. Interestingly, in the heart, fibers were markedly separated. In testis, stratified epithelium of seminal tubules lost its normal structure, tubules had epithelium loss, spermatids were absent, and spermatogonia and Leydig cells diminished. In PTZ kindling rats treated with BP, the lungs had no inflammatory infiltrates, although the heart showed some inflammatory infiltrates. Remaining structures had normal characteristics. These results, suggest that BP can protect rats from effects of PTZ-induced kindling.

Application of an automatic thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in airborne particulate matter.

The application of the thermal desorption (TD) method coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to the analysis of aerosol organics has been the focus of many studies in recent years. This technique overcomes the main drawbacks of the solvent extraction approach such as the use of large amounts of toxic organic solvents and long and laborious extraction processes. In this work, the application of an automatic TD-GC-MS instrument for the determination of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is evaluated. This device offers the advantage of allowing the analysis of either gaseous or particulate organics without any modification. Once the thermal desorption conditions for PAH extraction were optimised, the method was verified on NIST standard reference material (SRM) 1649a urban dust, showing good linearity, reproducibility and accuracy for all target PAHs. The method has been applied to PM10 and PM2.5 samples collected on quartz fibre filters with low volume samplers, demonstrating its capability to quantify PAHs when only a small amount of sample is available.

[The Connecticut Chemosensorial Clinical Research Center olfaction test: values in healthy volunteers]. / Test de olfato de Connecticut (CCCRC): valores en voluntarios sanos.

OBJECTIVE: To know the values of the olfactory test (CCCRC) performed in healthy people. To analyse how the age and sex affect the test. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive study in 100 volunteers with no olfactory disorders. We used CCCRC olfactory test, which it has an odor threshold component, an odor identification component and a composite score. We analysed how age and sex variables affect olfactory test data, listing a t-Student test. The size sample is calculated to 0.05 alfa error. RESULTS: Threshold test data mean was 5.8. Identification test data mean was 7.5. Composite score mean was 6.7. CONCLUSION: Age is a significant factor in our study but not sex. Sample size is sufficient to analyze normal values. Our results are similar to other authors.

Clinical immunogenicity of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine delivered by the Injex jet injector: comparison with standard syringe injection.

BACKGROUND: The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine confers trivalent immunity in >90% of subjects immunized. Alternatives to the use of needles for vaccine administration have recently been made available. We report the safety and efficacy of MMR vaccine delivered by a new needle-free jet injector (Injex) compared with needle syringe administration. METHODS: Forty adolescent subjects were injected bilaterally via needle syringe and jet injector with MMR vaccine and reconstitution buffer. Subjects were blinded as to which device contained the vaccine. Subjects were followed longitudinally for 12 weeks postimmunization, and titers to measles, mumps and rubella immunogens were determined by enzyme immunoassays. Injection pain was quantified using the visual analog pain scale. RESULTS: Adverse events were mild and included injection site soreness (jet injector, 2.5% of subjects; needle, 12.5%), injection site bleeding (jet injector, 0%; needle, 7.5%), malaise (jet injector, 0%; needle, 5%) and fever (jet injector, 0%; needle, 2.5%). All subjects displayed measles titers significantly above baseline during the follow-up. Ninety-five percent of subjects displayed titers above baseline for the mumps antigen vs. 97.5% for rubella. No significant differences in immunogenicity were found between groups receiving the vaccine via the jet injector or the needle syringe at any time during the follow-up (P > 0.05). Injection pain scores were not significantly different between injector types (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine can be safely and effectively delivered by the Injex jet injector. This device therefore provides an alternative to standard needle injection and a methodology that might reduce the risk of needle stick accidents.

New chiral didehydroamino acid derivatives from a cyclic glycine template with 3,6-dihydro-2H-1,4-oxazin-2-one structure: applications to the asymmetric synthesis of nonproteinogenic alpha-amino acids.

New chiral (Z)-alpha,beta-didehydroamino acid (DDAA) derivatives with 3,5-dihydro-2H-1,4-oxazin-2-one structure 11a-f have been stereoselectively prepared after condensation of chiral glycine equivalent 7 with aldehydes in the presence of K(2)CO(3) under mild solid-liquid phase-transfer catalysis reaction conditions. These new systems have been used in diastereoselective cyclopropanation reactions using Corey's ylide for the asymmetric synthesis of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acids (ACCs) such as allo-corononamic and allo-norcoronamic acids. The hydrogenation reaction of these systems at ambient pressure in the presence of formaldehyde affords saturated oxazinones and N-methylated oxazinones which have been transformed into the N-methyl-alpha-amino acids (N-MAAs) (S)-2-(methylamino)butanoic acid and (S)-N-methylleucine. In addition, the parent alpha, beta-didehydroalanine derivative 11g has been prepared by a direct aminomethylation-elimination sequence from 7 and Eschenmoser's salt and has been used in Diels-Alder cycloaddition with endo selectivity for the synthesis of the enantiomerically pure bicyclic alpha-amino acids (-)-2-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carboxylic and (-)-2-aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2-carboxylic acids.

[Non-invasive fungal sinusitis: allergic fungal sinusitis and sinusal mycetomas]. / Sinusitis fúngicas no invasivas: sinusitis fúngica alérgica y micetomas sinusales.

We review non-invasive fungal sinusitis (FS) cases treated at our Unit following the recent SF classification, based on physiopathology, treatment and prognosis. We report 7 FS cases treated during 2 years and followed a minimum of 24 months. They are two allergic FS, one of them related to an allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, and five mycetomas, two of them without a sinusal foreign body, sphenoidal and maxillary respectively, and three caused by a maxillary foreign body. All were treated by endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). The two allergic cases were also treated with systemic corticoids in the postoperative period. We review the clinical presentation of the different types of non-invasive FS, the importance of endoscopy and imaging techniques in their management, the usefulness of ESS, the common association of FS to foreign bodies, and their prognosis.

[Cholesterol granuloma of the middle ear: cause of idiopathic hemotympanum]. / Granuloma de colesterol de oído medio: causa de hemotímpano idiopático.

We report a case of a 49-year-old man with a cholesterol granuloma of the middle ear in an only hearing ear. As it mimicked a vascular middle ear tumor, a contrast cranial computed tomography and a gadolinium-enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging with vascular reconstructions were performed, confirming that both carotid artery and jugular vein were near the lesion but not involved. This patient could be managed with a conservative hearing preserving approach. Differential diagnosis of vascular middle ear anomalies is reviewed, specially in relation to cholesterol granulomas as a cause of idiopathic hemotympanum.

[Risk factors of ischemic cardiopathy. Study of patients hospitalized in a coronary unit]. / Conocimientos sobre factores de riesgo en cardiopatía isquémica. Estudio en pacientes ingresados en una Unidad Coronaria.

The purpose of this study is to determine the knowledge level patients hospitalized and diagnosed as suffering from ischemic cardiopathia have about their risk factors by means of an observationally, descriptively and cross-sectionally designed study. This study was carried out in the Coronary Care Unit at the Vall d'Hebron General Hospital between December 1995 and March 1996. Data was taken from clinical reports; furthermore, patients involved in the study were interviewed. Among the results obtained, the following are worth special mention: 57 patients or 47.5% knew about a HTA relationship; 97 patients or 81% knew about tobacco as a risk factor; 80 patients or 67% were aware of the cholesterol risk factor; and 58 patients or 48% had information regarding diabetes as a risk factor. No significant statistical differences were found among known coronary patients and nondiagnosed-coronary patients regarding their knowledge of risk factors. Only two-thirds of the study group considered it important to control their risk factors. Given the importance of knowledge about risk factors, perhaps this is the time to consider implementing a health educational program for this segment of the population.