STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI) presenting with skin lesions.

STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI) is caused by pathogenic gain-of-function variants in the gene TMEM173 (also named stimulator of interferon genes, STING1). This report details the case of an 11-year-old girl with SAVI who presented with skin-limited symptoms and discusses the phenotype-genotype correlations of the TMEM173 variant present in our patient. Treatment of SAVI focuses on preventing the development or progression of organ damage by reducing systemic inflammation. We summarize the available treatments for this syndrome.

Rechallenge in idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury: An analysis of cases in two large prospective registries according to existing definitions.

INTRODUCTION: Data on positive rechallenge in idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) are scarce. We aim to analyse the clinical presentation, outcome and drugs associated with positive rechallenge in two DILI registries. METHODS: Cases from the Spanish and Latin American DILI registries were included. Demographics, clinical characteristics and outcome of cases with positive rechallenge according to CIOMS/RUCAM and current definitions were analysed. RESULTS: Of 1418 patients with idiosyncratic DILI, 58 cases had positive rechallenge (4.1%). Patients with positive rechallenge had shorter duration of therapy (p=0.001) and latency (p=0.003). In patients with rechallenge, aspartate transaminase levels were increased (p=0.026) and showed a prolonged time to recovery (p=0.020), albeit no differences were seen in terms of fatal outcomes. The main drug implicated in rechallenge was amoxicillin-clavulanate (17%). The majority of re-exposure events were unintentional (71%). Using both existing definitions of positive rechallenge, there were four cases which exclusively fulfilled the current criteria and five which only meet the historical definition. All cases of positive rechallenge, irrespective of the pattern of damage, fulfilled the criteria of either alanine transaminase (ALT) ≥3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and/or alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≥2 times ULN. CONCLUSIONS: Episodes of rechallenge were characterised by shorter duration of therapy and latency, and longer time to resolution, but did not show an increased incidence of fatal outcome. Based on our findings, ALT ≥3 times ULN and/or ALP ≥2 times ULN, regardless of the pattern of damage, is proposed as a new definition of rechallenge in DILI.

Comparative MRI analysis of the forebrain of three sauropsida models.

The study of the brain by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows to obtain detailed anatomical images, useful to describe specific encephalic structures and to analyze possible variabilities. It is widely used in clinical practice and is becoming increasingly used in veterinary medicine, even in exotic animals; however, despite its potential, its use in comparative neuroanatomy studies is still incipient. It is a technology that in recent years has significantly improved anatomical resolution, together with the fact that it is non-invasive and allows for systematic comparative analysis. All this makes it particularly interesting and useful in evolutionary neuroscience studies, since it allows for the analysis and comparison of brains of rare or otherwise inaccessible species. In the present study, we have analyzed the prosencephalon of three representative sauropsid species, the turtle Trachemys scripta (order Testudine), the lizard Pogona vitticeps (order Squamata) and the snake Python regius (order Squamata) by MRI. In addition, we used MRI sections to analyze the total brain volume and ventricular system of these species, employing volumetric and chemometric analyses together. The raw MRI data of the sauropsida models analyzed in the present study are available for viewing and downloading and have allowed us to produce an atlas of the forebrain of each of the species analyzed, with the main brain regions. In addition, our volumetric data showed that the three groups presented clear differences in terms of total and ventricular brain volumes, particularly the turtles, which in all cases presented distinctive characteristics compared to the lizards and snakes.

Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Mycotic Aneurysm in Patients With Infective Endocarditis and the Impact of its Rupture in Outcomes. Analysis of a National Prospective Cohort.

Background: Several aspects of the occurrence and management of mycotic aneurysm (MA) in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) have not been studied. Objectives: To determine the incidence and factors associated with MA presence and rupture and to assess the evolution of those initially unruptured MA. Methods: Prospective multicenter cohort including all patients with definite IE between January 2008 and December 2020. Results: Of 4548 IE cases, 85 (1.9%) developed MA. Forty-six (54.1%) had intracranial MA and 39 (45.9%) extracranial MA. Rupture of MA occurred in 39 patients (45.9%). Patients with ruptured MA had higher 1-year mortality (hazard ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-3.67). Of the 55 patients with initially unruptured MA, 9 (16.4%) presented rupture after a median of 3 days (interquartile range, 1-7) after diagnosis, being more frequent in intracranial MA (32% vs 3.3%, P = .004). Of patients with initially unruptured MA, there was a trend toward better outcomes among those who received early specific intervention, including lower follow-up rupture (7.1% vs 25.0%, P = .170), higher rate of aneurysm resolution in control imaging (66.7% vs 31.3%, P = .087), lower MA-related mortality (7.1% vs 16.7%, P = .232), and lower MA-related sequalae (0% vs 27.8%, P = .045). Conclusions: MA occurred in 2% of the patients with IE. Half of the Mas occurred in an intracranial location. Their rupture is frequent and associated with poor prognosis. A significant proportion of initially unruptured aneurysms result from rupture during the first several days, being more common in intracranial aneurysms. Early specific treatment could potentially lead to better outcomes.

Roadmap to DILI research in Europe. A proposal from COST action ProEuroDILINet.

In the current article the aims for a constructive way forward in Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI) are to highlight the most important priorities in research and clinical science, therefore supporting a more informed, focused, and better funded future for European DILI research. This Roadmap aims to identify key challenges, define a shared vision across all stakeholders for the opportunities to overcome these challenges and propose a high-quality research program to achieve progress on the prediction, prevention, diagnosis and management of this condition and impact on healthcare practice in the field of DILI. This will involve 1. Creation of a database encompassing optimised case report form for prospectively identified DILI cases with well-characterised controls with competing diagnoses, biological samples, and imaging data; 2. Establishing of preclinical models to improve the assessment and prediction of hepatotoxicity in humans to guide future drug safety testing; 3. Emphasis on implementation science and 4. Enhanced collaboration between drug-developers, clinicians and regulatory scientists. This proposed operational framework will advance DILI research and may bring together basic, applied, translational and clinical research in DILI.

Effect of hip hemiarthroplasty dislocation on mortality after hip fracture surgery / Efecto de la luxación de la prótesis parcial de cadera en la mortalidad tras la cirugía de fractura de cadera

Introduction: Hip arthroplasty is the treatment of choice for displaced femoral neck fractures among the older population. The hip prosthesis dislocation is one of the most pointed potential complications after hip arthroplasty, but there is a lack of updated information on the effect of dislocation on the survival of older hip fracture patients so treated by hip hemiarthroplasty. We aim to evaluate the standalone effect of hip prosthesis dislocation after hip fracture hemiarthroplasty on patients’ survival outcomes. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study, including 6631 femoral neck fracture patients over 65 surgically treated by hemiarthroplasty. We made follow-up cut-offs 30-days, 6 weeks, 90-days, and one year after hospital discharge determining hip dislocation rate and patients’ survival. Results: The women population represented 78.7%, and the mean age of the population was 85.2±6.7 years. Hip prosthesis dislocation incidence was 1.9% in the first 90-days after discharge, representing 91.54% of primary dislocations yearly noted. We reported statistically significant increased mortality rates of patients presenting at least one hip prosthesis dislocation event (from 16.0% to 24.6% at 90-day after discharge, and 29.5% to 44.7% at one year), and also significantly decreasing patient survival function at 90-day (p=0.016) and one-year follow-up (p<0.001). The recurrent dislocation events (26.15%) showed even higher mortality rates (up to 60.6%, p<0.001). The multivariate Cox regression model determined that prosthesis dislocation was the only significant variable (p=0.035) affecting patient survival, increasing the risk of dying before one year of follow-up by 2.7 times. Discussion: Our study stands for the standalone hip prosthesis dislocation entailing a higher risk of death after hip fracture hemiarthroplasty in the older population.(AU)

Introducción: La artroplastia de cadera es el tratamiento de elección para las fracturas desplazadas del cuello de fémur en la población de edad avanzada. La luxación de la prótesis de cadera es una de las complicaciones potenciales tras la artroplastia de cadera, pero falta información actualizada sobre el efecto de la luxación en la supervivencia de los pacientes mayores con fractura de cadera tratados mediante hemiartroplastia de cadera. Nuestro objetivo es evaluar el efecto de la luxación de la prótesis de cadera (hemiartroplastia) como factor aislado, en la función de supervivencia de los pacientes. Materiales y métodos: Realizamos un estudio multicéntrico retrospectivo, que incluyó a 6.631 pacientes mayores de 65 años con fractura de cuello de fémur tratados quirúrgicamente mediante hemiartroplastia. Se realizaron cortes de seguimiento a los 30 días, 6 semanas, 90 días y un año del alta hospitalaria, determinando la tasa de luxación de cadera y la supervivencia de los pacientes. Resultados: La población femenina representó el 78,7%, y la edad media de la población fue de 85,2±6,7 años. La incidencia de luxación de la prótesis de cadera fue del 1,9% en los primeros 90 días tras el alta, lo que representa el 91,54% de las luxaciones primarias observadas anualmente. Se registró un aumento estadísticamente significativo de las tasas de mortalidad de los pacientes que presentaban al menos un evento de luxación de la prótesis de cadera (del 16,0 al 24,6% a los 90 días del alta, y del 29,5 al 44,7% al año), y también una disminución significativa de la función de supervivencia de los pacientes a los 90 días (p=0,016) y al año de seguimiento (p<0,001). Los eventos de luxación recurrente (26,15%) mostraron tasas de mortalidad aún más altas (hasta el 60,6%, p<0,001). El modelo multivariante de regresión de Cox determinó que la luxación de la prótesis de cadera es la única variable significativa (p=0,035) que afecta a la...(AU)

[Artículo traducido] Efecto de la luxación de la prótesis parcial de cadera en la mortalidad tras la cirugía de fractura de cadera / Effect of hip hemiarthroplasty dislocation on mortality after hip fracture surgery

Introducción: La artroplastia de cadera es el tratamiento de elección para las fracturas desplazadas del cuello de fémur en la población de edad avanzada. La luxación de la prótesis de cadera es una de las complicaciones potenciales tras la artroplastia de cadera, pero falta información actualizada sobre el efecto de la luxación en la supervivencia de los pacientes mayores con fractura de cadera tratados mediante hemiartroplastia de cadera. Nuestro objetivo es evaluar el efecto de la luxación de la prótesis de cadera (hemiartroplastia) como factor aislado, en la función de supervivencia de los pacientes. Materiales y métodos: Realizamos un estudio multicéntrico retrospectivo, que incluyó a 6.631 pacientes mayores de 65 años con fractura de cuello de fémur tratados quirúrgicamente mediante hemiartroplastia. Se realizaron cortes de seguimiento a los 30 días, 6 semanas, 90 días y un año del alta hospitalaria, determinando la tasa de luxación de cadera y la supervivencia de los pacientes. Resultados: La población femenina representó el 78,7%, y la edad media de la población fue de 85,2±6,7 años. La incidencia de luxación de la prótesis de cadera fue del 1,9% en los primeros 90 días tras el alta, lo que representa el 91,54% de las luxaciones primarias observadas anualmente. Se registró un aumento estadísticamente significativo de las tasas de mortalidad de los pacientes que presentaban al menos un evento de luxación de la prótesis de cadera (del 16,0 al 24,6% a los 90 días del alta, y del 29,5 al 44,7% al año), y también una disminución significativa de la función de supervivencia de los pacientes a los 90 días (p=0,016) y al año de seguimiento (p<0,001). Los eventos de luxación recurrente (26,15%) mostraron tasas de mortalidad aún más altas (hasta el 60,6%, p<0,001). El modelo multivariante de regresión de Cox determinó que la luxación de la prótesis de cadera es la única variable significativa (p=0,035) que afecta a la...(AU)

Introduction: Hip arthroplasty is the treatment of choice for displaced femoral neck fractures among the older population. The hip prosthesis dislocation is one of the most pointed potential complications after hip arthroplasty, but there is a lack of updated information on the effect of dislocation on the survival of older hip fracture patients so treated by hip hemiarthroplasty. We aim to evaluate the standalone effect of hip prosthesis dislocation after hip fracture hemiarthroplasty on patients’ survival outcomes. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study, including 6631 femoral neck fracture patients over 65 surgically treated by hemiarthroplasty. We made follow-up cut-offs 30-days, 6 weeks, 90-days, and one year after hospital discharge determining hip dislocation rate and patients’ survival. Results: The women population represented 78.7%, and the mean age of the population was 85.2±6.7 years. Hip prosthesis dislocation incidence was 1.9% in the first 90-days after discharge, representing 91.54% of primary dislocations yearly noted. We reported statistically significant increased mortality rates of patients presenting at least one hip prosthesis dislocation event (from 16.0% to 24.6% at 90-day after discharge, and 29.5% to 44.7% at one year), and also significantly decreasing patient survival function at 90-day (p=0.016) and one-year follow-up (p<0.001). The recurrent dislocation events (26.15%) showed even higher mortality rates (up to 60.6%, p<0.001). The multivariate Cox regression model determined that prosthesis dislocation was the only significant variable (p=0.035) affecting patient survival, increasing the risk of dying before one year of follow-up by 2.7 times. Discussion: Our study stands for the standalone hip prosthesis dislocation entailing a higher risk of death after hip fracture hemiarthroplasty in the older population.(AU)

A methodology to determine 212Pb, 212Bi, 214Pb and 214Bi in atmospheric aerosols; Application to precisely obtain aerosol residence times and Rn-daughters' equilibrium factors.

Progeny of 222Rn and 220Rn, (212Pb, 212Bi, 214Pb and 214Bi) are essential to assess radiological hazard, external and internal doses, residence times and equilibrium factors. Precise measurements of these nuclides are quite complex due to their very short half-lives. This study outlines a new and precise methodology to measure these nuclides. Radon-222 and 220Rn were measured using a radon monitoring system, while their respective progenies were collected in an atmospheric filter using an ASS-500 sampler and measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. The 212Pb concentrations were very similar to the thoron ones, where all 212Bi/212Pb ratios were consistently less than 1. The relative uncertainties, σr, of the 212Pb and 212Bi activity concentrations, and 212Bi/212Pb activity ratio are generally less than 10%. Moreover, 214Pb/222Rn ratios were about 0.7, agreeing well with previous works. The σr for 214Pb, 214Bi and 214Bi/214Pb were generally less than 6%. This methodology was applied to estimate aerosol residence times using the 214Pb/222Rn and 212Bi/212Pb activity ratios, and to obtain equilibrium factors, achieving consistent results. Furthermore, the methodology consistency and validity range were studied with time elapsed between sampling end and counting start, and the sampling durations, finding the optimum times to precisely determine 212Pb, 212Bi, 214Pb and 214Bi.

Effect of hip hemiarthroplasty dislocation on mortality after hip fracture surgery. / [Artículo traducido] Efecto de la luxación de la prótesis parcial de cadera en la mortalidad tras la cirugía de fractura de cadera.

INTRODUCTION: Hip arthroplasty is the treatment of choice for displaced femoral neck fractures among the older population. The hip prosthesis dislocation is one of the most pointed potential complications after hip arthroplasty, but there is a lack of updated information on the effect of dislocation on the survival of older hip fracture patients so treated by hip hemiarthroplasty. We aim to evaluate the standalone effect of hip prosthesis dislocation after hip fracture hemiarthroplasty on patients' survival outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study, including 6631 femoral neck fracture patients over 65 surgically treated by hemiarthroplasty. We made follow-up cut-offs 30-days, 6 weeks, 90-days, and one year after hospital discharge determining hip dislocation rate and patients' survival. RESULTS: The women population represented 78.7%, and the mean age of the population was 85.2 ± 6.7 years. Hip prosthesis dislocation incidence was 1.9% in the first 90-days after discharge, representing 91.54% of primary dislocations yearly noted. We reported statistically significant increased mortality rates of patients presenting at least one hip prosthesis dislocation event (from 16.0% to 24.6% at 90-day after discharge, and 29.5% to 44.7% at one year), and also significantly decreasing patient survival function at 90-day (P = .016) and one-year follow-up (P < .001). The recurrent dislocation events (26.15%) showed even higher mortality rates (up to 60.6%, p < .001). The multivariate Cox regression model determined that prosthesis dislocation was the only significant variable (P = .035) affecting patient survival, increasing the risk of dying before one year of follow-up by 2.7 times. DISCUSSION: Our study stands for the standalone hip prosthesis dislocation entailing a higher risk of death after hip fracture hemiarthroplasty in the older population.

Effect of hip hemiarthroplasty dislocation on mortality after hip fracture surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Hip arthroplasty is the treatment of choice for displaced femoral neck fractures among the older population. The hip prosthesis dislocation is one of the most pointed potential complications after hip arthroplasty, but there is a lack of updated information on the effect of dislocation on the survival of older hip fracture patients so treated by hip hemiarthroplasty. We aim to evaluate the standalone effect of hip prosthesis dislocation after hip fracture hemiarthroplasty on patients' survival outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study, including 6631 femoral neck fracture patients over 65 surgically treated by hemiarthroplasty. We made follow-up cut-offs 30-days, 6 weeks, 90-days, and one year after hospital discharge determining hip dislocation rate and patients' survival. RESULTS: The women population represented 78.7%, and the mean age of the population was 85.2±6.7 years. Hip prosthesis dislocation incidence was 1.9% in the first 90-days after discharge, representing 91.54% of primary dislocations yearly noted. We reported statistically significant increased mortality rates of patients presenting at least one hip prosthesis dislocation event (from 16.0% to 24.6% at 90-day after discharge, and 29.5% to 44.7% at one year), and also significantly decreasing patient survival function at 90-day (p=0.016) and one-year follow-up (p<0.001). The recurrent dislocation events (26.15%) showed even higher mortality rates (up to 60.6%, p<0.001). The multivariate Cox regression model determined that prosthesis dislocation was the only significant variable (p=0.035) affecting patient survival, increasing the risk of dying before one year of follow-up by 2.7 times. DISCUSSION: Our study stands for the standalone hip prosthesis dislocation entailing a higher risk of death after hip fracture hemiarthroplasty in the older population.

Processing methods for human amniotic membrane as scaffold for tissue engineering with mesenchymal stromal human cells.

Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies the principles of engineering and life sciences toward the development of biological substitutes that restore, maintain, or improve tissue function. The aims of this work were to compare chemically and physically processed human Amniotic Membranes (hAM) and analyze the cytocompatibility and proliferation rate (PR) of two primary human mesenchymal stromal cell lines, from different sources and donor conditions seeded over these scaffolds. The evaluated hAM processes were: cold shock to obtain a frozen amniotic membrane (FEAM) with remaining dead epithelial cells, denudation of hAM with trypsin for 20/10 min (DEAM20/10) or treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate to decellularized hAM (DAM). All samples were sterilized with gamma radiation. The selection of the treated hAM to then generate composites was performed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and characterization by X-ray diffraction, selecting DEAM10 and FEAM as scaffolds for cell seeding. Two sources of primary human stromal cells were used, both developed by our researchers, human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSC) from living donors and human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (hMSC) from bone marrow isolated from brain dead donors. This last line of cells conveys a novel source of human cells that, to our knowledge, have not been tested as part of this type of construct. We developed four in vitro constructs without cytotoxicity signs and with different PR depending on the scaffolds and cells. hDPSC and hMSC grew over both FEAM and DEAM10, but DEAM10 allowed higher PR.

Surface ozone trends at El Arenosillo observatory from a new perspective.

Surface ozone trends observed at El Arenosillo observatory for the last 22 years (2000-2021) were investigated. The trends for daily averages and daily 5th and 95th percentiles were 1.2 ± 0.3 ppb decade-1, 2.2 ± 0.3 ppb decade-1 and -0.03 ± 0.43 ppb decade-1, respectively, thus showing a significant increase of background ozone. The surface temperature trends were also explored, obtaining trends of 0.5 ± 0.2 °C decade-1, 1.1 ± 0.2 °C decade-1 and -0.3 ± 0.2 °C decade-1 for daily averages, 5th and 95th percentiles, respectively. To identify potential changes in the ozone drivers, the weather pattern shifts were analyzed through the horizontal distribution trends of temperature at 2 m and geopotential height at 850 hPa. A strengthening of the Azores anticyclone and a regional warming were detected, which could contribute to the ozone trends obtained. The surface ozone trend in every month was explored, identifying a monthly pattern, with remarkable opposite trends in December-January (2.4 ± 0.9 ppb decade-1) vs July-August (-0.5 ± 1.1 ppb decade-1). The surface ozone trends for every hour of the day were also explored, identifying two clear patterns. The first pattern occurred from spring to autumn and was characterized by a behavior opposite to the typical daily ozone cycle. The second pattern was observed in winter, and it shows two relative peaks in the ozone trends (around 13:00 and 19:00 UTC). In a context of ozone precursor's depletion, changes in the weather conditions and warmer climate, to improve our knowledge of the ozone trends, we suggest exploring them based on daily and hourly averages.

Level A IVIVC for immediate release tablets confirms in vivo predictive dissolution testing for ibuprofen.

A bioequivalence study comparing two fixed dose combination tablets containing 200 mg ibuprofen and 30 mg pseudoephedrine hydrochloride showed bioequivalence for pseudoephedrine AUC and Cmax, but the reference product showed higher Cmax than the test product in fasted conditions. The main difference between products was the presence of tribasic calcium phosphate in the reference tablet, resulting in an increased surface pH of the dissolving ibuprofen particles under gastric and intestinal conditions and, consequently, higher solubility of ibuprofen. A mechanistic model based on mass balance and ionization equilibria was used to calculate the pH of the particle surface under different buffer conditions. The discrepancies in surface pH between test and reference tablet were pronounced in 0.1 M and 0.01 M hydrochloric acid and in diluted maleate 7 mM pH 6.5 and phosphate 5 mM pH 6.7 buffers (but negligible in compendial phosphate buffer pH 6.8. Only those dissolution tests using pre-treatment in acidic conditions could be used to build a one-step in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC). This work shows the potential of these discriminatory and in vivo predictive dissolution methods to obtain IVIVCs for BCS class IIa drugs and for extending BCS biowaivers to BCS class IIa drugs.

La relación entre inteligencia emocional y personalidad en estudiantes universitarios españoles / The relationship between emotional intelligence with the Big Five in Spanish undergraduates

El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar la relación entre la inteligencia emocional y el modelo de personali-dad de los Cinco Grandes. Una muestra de 430 estudiantes universitarios con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y los 69 años (M = 21’41; DT = 4’99) completaron el Trait Meta Mood Scale (TMMS-24; Salovey, Mayer, Goldman et al., 1995) y el Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI; Gosling, Rentfrow y Swann, 2003). El análisis de correlación realizado muestra cierto solapamiento entre las dimensiones de la inteligencia emocional y los factores de los Cinco Grandes. Los resultados de los análisis de regresión están en línea con el modelo de inteligencia emocional rasgo y apoyan la asociación entre determinados factores de los Cinco Grandes (particularmente extraversión y estabilidad emocional) y las dimensiones de la inteligencia emocional. El presente estudio contribuye a expandir la literatura sobre las relaciones entre la inteligencia emocional y la personalidad (AU)

The goal of this research is to analyze the relationship between emotional intelligence with the Big Five personality model. A sample of 300 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 69 (M = 21.41; SD = 4.99) filled the Trait Meta Mood Scale (TMMS-24, Salovey, Mayer, Goldman et al., 1995) and the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI; Gosling, Rentfrow, & Swann, 2003). The correlation analysis performed shows some overlap between the dimensions of emotional intelligence and the Big Five factors. The results of the regression analyses are in line with trait emotional intelligence model and support the association between certain factors of the Big Five (particularly with extraversion and emotional stability) and the dimensions of emotional intelligence. The present study contributes to expanding the literature on the relationships between emotional intelligence and personality (AU)

Synthesis and characterization of a bovine collagen: GAG scaffold with Uruguayan raw material for tissue engineering.

Tissue engineering (TE) and regenerative medicine offer strategies to improve damaged tissues by using scaffolds and cells. The use of collagen-based biomaterials in the field of TE has been intensively growing over the past decades. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are promising cell candidates for development of clinical composites. In this study, we proposed the development of a bovine collagen type I: chondroitin-6-sulphate (CG) scaffold, obtained from Uruguayan raw material (certified as free bovine spongiform encephalopathy), with CG crosslinking enhancement using different gamma radiation doses. Structural, biomechanical and chemical characteristics of the scaffolds were assessed by Scanning Electron Microscopy, axial tensile tests, FT-IR and Raman Spectroscopy, respectively. Once we selected the most appropriate scaffold for future use as a TE product, we studied the behavior of MSCs and DPSCs cultured on the scaffold by cytotoxicity, proliferation and differentiation assays. Among the diverse porous scaffolds obtained, the one with the most adequate properties was the one exposed to 15 kGy of gamma radiation. This radiation dose contributed to the crosslinking of molecules, to the formation of new bonds and/or to the reorganization of the collagen fibers. The selected scaffold was non-cytotoxic for the tested cells and a suitable substrate for cell proliferation. Furthermore, the scaffold allowed MSCs differentiation to osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages. Thus, this work shows a promising approach to the synthesis of a collagen-scaffold suitable for TE.

Radon transport events associated with the impact of a NORM repository in the SW of Europe.

Two radon measurement stations located to the north and south of a NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) repository of phosphogypsum (southwest of Europe) were used to monitor radon behavior during 2018. The stations are located at opposing sides of the repository, one in Huelva City to the north and other one in a rural area to the south. This setup aimed to identify the influence of the NORM repository on each station and use radon levels as a marker of atmospheric transport in the local area. To achieve this, a comparison was carried out with other coastal stations in the south of Spain, finding higher average concentrations in Huelva City, ~3.3 Bq m-3. Hierarchical clustering was applied to identify days with different radon patterns at each Huelva station, detecting possible local radon transport events from the repository. Three events were investigated with WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) and FLEXPART-WRF (FLEXible PARTicle dispersion model). It was found that both sampling sites required atmospheric stagnant conditions to reach high radon concentration. However, under these conditions the urban station showed high radon regardless of wind direction while the rural station also required radon transport from the repository, either directly or indirectly.