An Optimized Method for Evaluating the Potential Gd-Nanoparticle Dose Enhancement Produced by Electronic Brachytherapy.

This work reports an optimized method to experimentally quantify the Gd-nanoparticle dose enhancement generated by electronic brachytherapy. The dose enhancement was evaluated considering energy beams of 50 kVp and 70 kVp, determining the Gd-nanoparticle concentration ranges that would optimize the process for each energy. The evaluation was performed using delaminated radiochromic films and a Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) phantom covered on one side by a thin 2.5 µm Mylar filter acting as an interface between the region with Gd suspension and the radiosensitive film substrate. The results for the 70 kVp beam quality showed dose increments of 6±6%, 22±7%, and 9±7% at different concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 mg/mL, respectively, verifying the competitive mechanisms of enhancement and attenuation. For the 50 kVp beam quality, no increase in dose was recorded for the concentrations studied, indicating that the major contribution to enhancement is from the K-edge interaction. In order to separate the contributions of attenuation and enhancement to the total dose, measurements were replicated with a 12 µm Mylar filter, obtaining a dose enhancement attributable to the K-edge of 29±7% and 34±7% at 20 and 30 mg/mL, respectively, evidencing a significant additional dose proportional to the Gd concentration.

Sistema CRISPR/Cas: Edición genómica de precisión / CRISPR/Cas system: precision genome editing

La función original de los sistemas CRISPR/Cas es destruir el DNA de virus bacterianos. Este sistema ha evolucionado para identificar y cortar secuencias de diferentes DNA de virus de DNA evitando la infección. En la célula, está compuesto de genes Cas que producen nucleasas guiadas por RNA capaces de cortar el DNA. Si el RNA guía encuentra DNA de un virus con el que se puede emparejar, recluta a la nucleasa Cas9 que lo corta. Este sistema es utilizado in vitro para editar genes basándose en la producción de rupturas de doble cadena y su posterior reparación. Actualmente existen varias plataformas para el diseño de RNAs guía, aunque también es posible realizarlo de forma manual. Los componentes del sistema son entregados a la célula mediante un plásmido o una ribonucleoproteína. En esta revisión nos centraremos en la función original de CRISPR/Cas en procariotas y en cómo los investigadores la han modificado para proporcionar nuevas técnicas de edición de genomas. Discutiremos sobre las ventajas de esta nueva técnica, las formas en que podemos utilizarla y algunas de las limitaciones que aún encontramos en su aplicación

The original function of CRISPR/Cas systems is to destroy the DNA of bacterial viruses. This system has evolved to identify sequences of different DNA viruses and cut them in order to avoid infection. In the cell, the system is made up of Cas genes which produce RNA-guided nucleases capable of cutting DNA. If the guide RNA finds viral DNA with which it can pair up, it recruits the Cas9 nuclease to cut it. This system is used in vitro for gene edition, relying on the production of double-strand breaks and their subsequent repair. Currently, there are several platforms for the design of the guide RNA, and it is also possible to design it manually. The components of the system can be delivered to the cell through a plasmid or through a ribonucleoprotein. In this review we will focus on the original function of CRISPR/Cas in prokaryotes, and in how researchers have modified it in order to provide new genome editing techniques. We will discuss the advantages of this new technique, the ways in which it can be used, and some of the limitations found in its application

Brote epidémico de hepatitis aguda A en el área sanitaria del Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria (HUVV): un cambio en la epidemiología / Outbreak of acute hepatitis A in the health area served by the Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria (HUVV): a change in epidemiology

En el año 2016 se detectó en la provincia de Málaga un brote de hepatitis A en pacientes con características epidemiológicas especiales, con un predominio de sujetos del sexo masculino. Presentamos 51 casos de hepatitis A aguda con una media de edad de 35,7 años, el 90% varones, con un 55% de casos que reconocían haber mantenido relaciones sexuales con otros hombres en los últimos dos meses. La mitad de ellos requirieron ingreso hospitalario por coagulopatía significativa en el momento del diagnóstico, sin evolución a fallo fulminante, ni encefalopatía en ningún caso. Cuatro casos presentaban ascitis al diagnóstico. Este brote se suma a otros dos publicados en Reino Unido y Holanda con un número de casos similar y epidemiológicamente muy parecidos, lo cual refuerza la importancia de la vigilancia epidemiológica y la necesidad de vacunación en esta población de riesgo, así como de campañas informativas a la población para prevenir la enfermedad

In 2016, an outbreak of hepatitis A was identified in the Malaga province among patients with specific epidemiological characteristics, which were predominantly males. This is a report of 51 subjects with acute hepatitis A and a mean age of 35.7 years, 90% were male and 55% of cases were men who had had sex with other men within the last two months. Half of them required hospitalization for significant coagulopathy at diagnosis and no cases progressed to fulminant failure or encephalopathy. Four patients had ascites at the time of diagnosis. This outbreak adds to those reported in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands with a similar number of cases and epidemiology. These studies highlight the importance of epidemiological surveillance, the need for vaccination in this particular at risk population and the need for informative campaigns in order to prevent this disease

Outbreak of acute hepatitis A in the health area served by the Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria (HUVV): a change in epidemiology.

In 2016, an outbreak of hepatitis A was identified in the Malaga province among patients with specific epidemiological characteristics, which were predominantly males. This is a report of 51 subjects with acute hepatitis A and a mean age of 35.7 years, 90% were male and 55% of cases were men who had had sex with other men within the last two months. Half of them required hospitalization for significant coagulopathy at diagnosis and no cases progressed to fulminant failure or encephalopathy. Four patients had ascites at the time of diagnosis. This outbreak adds to those reported in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands with a similar number of cases and epidemiology. These studies highlight the importance of epidemiological surveillance, the need for vaccination in this particular at risk population and the need for informative campaigns in order to prevent this disease.

Síndrome de superposición de una dermatomiositis con una esclerodermia: presentación de un caso / Dermatomyositis and systemic scleroderma: a case of overlop syndrome

La presentación de este trabajo que involucra un solo caso clínico, está motivada por la poca frecuencia con que se observa un cuadro integrado por la "superposición" de varias colagenopatias, y que no encuadra en la "enfermedad mixta", ya que en ella se presentan siempre anticuerpos anti-RNP positivos, elemento que invariablemente fue negativo en nuestra paciente

Síndrome de superposición de una dermatomiositis con una esclerodermia: presentación de un caso / Dermatomyositis and systemic scleroderma: a case of overlop syndrome

La presentación de este trabajo que involucra un solo caso clínico, está motivada por la poca frecuencia con que se observa un cuadro integrado por la "superposición" de varias colagenopatias, y que no encuadra en la "enfermedad mixta", ya que en ella se presentan siempre anticuerpos anti-RNP positivos, elemento que invariablemente fue negativo en nuestra paciente (AU)