Living with a central nervous system (CNS) tumor: findings on long-term survivorship from the NIH Natural History Study.

BACKGROUND: Primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors are often associated with high symptom burden and a poor prognosis from the time of diagnosis. The purpose of this study is to describe patient-reported outcomes (PRO) data from long-term survivors (LTS; ≥5-year survival post-diagnosis). METHODS: Clinical/treatment/molecular characteristics and PROs (symptom burden/interference (MDASI-BT/SP), perceived cognition (Neuro-QoL), anxiety/depression (PROMIS), and general health status (EQ-5D-3L)) were collected on 248 adult LTS between 9/2016 and 8/2019. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to report results. RESULTS: Participants had a median age of 47 years (19-82) and were primarily White (83%) males (51%) with high-grade tumors (59%) and few mutations. Forty-two percent of the 222 brain tumor LTS reported no moderate-to-severe symptoms, whereas 45% reported three or more; most common symptoms were fatigue (40%), difficulty remembering (29%), and drowsiness (28%). Among spine tumor LTS (n = 42), nearly half reported moderate-to-severe weakness, pain, fatigue, and numbness/tingling, with 72% experiencing activity-related interference. Severe anxiety, depression, and cognitive symptoms were reported in up to 23% of the sample. Brain tumor LTS at higher risk for severe symptoms were more likely to be young, unemployed, and have poor KPS (Karnofsky Performance Status), whereas high symptom-risk spinal cord tumor LTS had poor KPS and received any tumor treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate LTS fall into distinct cohorts with no significant symptoms or very high symptom burden, regardless of tumor grade or mutational profile. These LTS data demonstrate the need for survivorship care programs and future studies to explore the symptom trajectory of all CNS tumor patients for prevention and early interventions.

Aportes interdisciplinarios a la represión política: el caso del ex Fuerte "El Morro" (1973-1985), región del Biobío, Chile / Interdisciplinary contributions to the notion of political repression: the case of the former Fort "El Morro" (1973-1985), Biobío region, Chile

Resumen Esta investigación aborda la noción de represión política que, atendiendo a su complejidad, requiere un enfoque interdisciplinario que considera, además de las disciplinas de la historia, las ciencias políticas o la psicología social, los aportes de la filosofía. Interesa precisar que la represión política tiene entre sus objetivos desintegrar la cohesión social y política, mediante la modificación del vínculo del sujeto con el mundo, entendida, en este estudio, como resonancia. Para ello, se investiga el caso del ex Fuerte "El Morro" (1973-1985), centro clandestino de detención y tortura instaurado durante la dictadura chilena cívico militar (1973-1990). Como método, se realizan estudios de caso que consideran entrevistas semiestructuradas, así como la revisión de fuentes de información histórica y de testimonios de sobrevivientes del lugar. Las fuentes secundarias son de tipo académicas, de prensa y audiovisuales. Los principales resultados destacan la noción de resonancia como un modelo que permite comprender, en los vínculos sociales, la relevancia de valores políticos.

Abstract This research addresses the notion of political repression which, considering its complexity, requires an interdisciplinary approach that considers in addition to the disciplines of history, political science or social psychology, the contributions of philosophy. In this regard, the complexity is linked to the semantic richness of the word repression that allows formulating some philosophical questions that can be answered from social psychology regarding the notion of trauma and violence, and from political science considering the concept of social control. Thus, the relationships and distinctions between repression and associated concepts are established in a multidimensional way and through mutual influences. It is interesting to specify that political repression has among its objectives, to disintegrate social and political cohesion, by modifying the subject's bond with the world, which has three dimensions: orientation or disposition to action towards and with the other, values personal, social and political and the nexus with the collective. In this study, resonance is understood as the mutual influence or co-variation between the subject and the world in each of these dimensions in a complementary or synchronous way. To this end, the case of the former Fort "El Morro" (1973-1985), located in the coastal zone of the Biobío region, and with an important historical antecedent of military occupation, which functioned as a clandestine detention and torture center, is being investigated during the Chilean civic-military dictatorship (1973-1990). As a method, case studies are carried out, which consider semi-structured interviews, the objective of which was to account for the experience of repression as a form of harm justified by State agents. Historical information sources that detail the background on the civic military coup in the Biobío region, mainly in the city of Concepción, and testimonies of survivors of the place that relate the repressive events of which they were direct witnesses were also reviewed. The secondary sources are academic, which in this study constitute the interdisciplinary theoretical contributions to support the notion of repression. The secondary press and audiovisual sources used are of a recent nature and reveal other historical antecedents that allowed the declaration of the site as a historical monument. The main results highlight the notion of resonance as a comprehensive model that allows a broad and complex visualization of social and political phenomena such as the case of repression, emphasizing the interactions between the subjects and institutions that make up a socio-political network. The main finding is linked to the concept of resonance, understood not only as an identification of the group with political ideology but as a proposal that, from the contributions of philosophy, articulates social ties with political values. In this regard, the resonance that considers the social ties sustained in political relationships, favors reconsidering subjectivity and social ties in relation to transcendental political principles that guide subjectivities towards the restitution of social and political cohesion. In this sense, resonance can be considered a fundamental notion since it illuminates the nexus between the social and the political from another perspective. In this way, it can be affirmed that a projection of this study consists of exploring political phenomena attending to historical, spatial and temporal dimensions from different disciplines, particularly highlighting the contribution of philosophy, whose questions can collaborate with the study of historical events from new prospects.

[Beginnings, evolution and current situation of the Newborn Screening Programs in Spain.] / Inicio, evolución y situación actual de los Programas de Cribado Neonatal en España.

Newborn Screening Programs (NSP) in Spain were born in the city of Granada in 1968. Till the 1980s, they were developed around the so-called "National Plan for Preventing Subnormality", covering up to 30% of the Spanish newborns. From 1982, when the health system management was transferred to the different autonomous regions, the NSP began to expand, and the bases to transform them into an organized and multidisciplinary activity, integrated and coordinated from the National Health System were settled. Despite this expansion, it is not until the 1990s when their coverage reaches almost 100% newborns in Spain. NSP grew up asymmetrically across the different autonomous regions. In 2005 and 2006 the scientific societies SEQC (Spanish Society of Clinical Chemistry) and AECNE (Spanish Society of Newborn Screening), coordinated by the Health Promotion Area of the General Directorate of Public Health, gathered together the necessary information to elaborate a report on the NSP in Spain addressed to the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System. In July 2013, that Council approved the seven diseases that should be part of each region newborn screening panel, being the first step towards the NSP harmonization in Spain. Currently, the NSP include between 8 and 29 diseases in their panels, thus more still more efforts are needed in order to achieve a higher uniformity.

Los Programas de Cribado Neonatal (PCN) nacen en España en Granada en el año 1968. Posteriormente, y hasta los años 80, se fueron desarrollando en torno al llamado "Plan Nacional de Prevención de la Subnormalidad" con una cobertura cercana al 30% de los recién nacidos españoles. A partir de 1982, con el inicio de la gestión de la sanidad a las comunidades autónomas (CCAA), los PCN se expandieron y se comenzaron a sentar las bases para que éstos se convirtieran en una actividad organizada y multidisciplinar, integrados y coordinados desde el Sistema de Salud. A pesar de dicha expansión no es hasta el inicio de la década de los 90 cuando se consigue una cobertura próxima al 100% de los RN en España. Los PCN fueron creciendo de forma muy asimétrica en las diferentes CCAA y en los años 2005 y 2006 las Sociedades Científicas SEQC (Sociedad Española de Química Clínica) y AECNE (Asociación Española de Cribado Neonatal), con la coordinación del Área de Promoción de la Salud de la Dirección General de Salud Pública, recopilaron la información y elaboraron un informe, sobre los PCN en España para el Consejo Interterritorial del sistema Nacional de Salud (CISNS). En julio de 2013 este Consejo aprobó las siete enfermedades que debían formar parte del panel de detección de los PCN territoriales, primer paso hacia la armonización de estos programas. Actualmente, los PCN incluyen entre 8 y 29 enfermedades por lo que es necesario seguir trabajando para conseguir una mayor uniformidad.

A step forward in the development of superoxide dismutase mimetic nanozymes: the effect of the charge of the surface on antioxidant activity.

Two binucleating hezaaza macrocycles containing a pyridinol spacer have been prepared and characterised. Protonation studies indicate the deprotonation of the phenol group at relatively low pH values with the concomitant occurrence of a keto-enolic equilibrium. These ligands readily form binuclear Cu2+ and Zn2+ complexes as denoted by potentiometric and spectroscopic studies. The binding of the metals yields to the ready deprotonation of the phenol with the stabilisation of the keto form that results in complexes of greater stabilities than the analogous ones containing pyridine as spacer instead of pyridine. Mixed Cu2+-Zn2+-complexes were also detected in aqueous solutions containing equimolar amounts of Cu2+, Zn2+ and ligands. The binuclear Cu2+ complexes show significant SOD activity as proved by the McCord-Fridovich assays. The binuclear Cu2+ complexes of the ligands grafted to boehmite nanoparticles (BNPs) show a remarkable increase in SOD activity, which reaches 8-fold in one of the systems. The observed increase can be ascribed to the positive ζ-potential of the BNPs since the same complexes anchored to silica nanoparticles with negative ζ-potential do not show any apparent increase in activity. This behaviour is reminiscent of the positively charged funnel found in CuZnSOD, which has the electroactive copper ion at its end.

Mesocrystalline anatase nanoparticles synthesized using a simple hydrothermal approach with enhanced light harvesting for gas-phase reaction.

Mesocrystalline TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized using a hydrothermal approach. A simple two-step procedure at low temperature (<140 °C) allowed the nucleation of primary particles sized 2-4 nm and their subsequent assembly as almost spherical aggregates sized ≈20 nm. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies, and HRTEM studies confirmed anatase as the unique TiO2 crystalline phase. The mesocrystalline structure of the anatase aggregates was clearly evidenced by HRTEM and SAED results. The mesocrystalline nanopowders exhibit a mesoporous structure with a surface area and pore volume of 63.5 m2 g-1 and 0.22 cm3 g-1, respectively. Ultraviolet (UV) and visible light (Vis) absorption ability were recorded. The combined high effectiveness and selectivity for the NOx abatement of the new mesocrystalline photocatalyst are reported. It is worth remarking that the maximised selectivity values reached for the NOx process are reported for the first time and could be associated with the mesoporous nature of the anatase photocatalyst.

Enhancement of SOD activity in boehmite supported nanoreceptors.

The binuclear Cu2+ complex of a pyridinophane polyamine ligand ranking amongst the fastest SOD mimetics so far reported displays a remarkable SOD activity enhancement when grafted to the surface of boehmite (γ-AlO(OH)) nanoparticles (BNPs).

Efecto Analgésico de Uncaria Tomentosa Will "Uña de Gato" adultos mayores con Gonartrosis. Centro de Atención de Medicina Complementaria EsSalud / Analgesic Effect of Uncaria Tomentosa Will "Cat's Claw" older adults with Gonarthrosis. EsSalud Complementary Medicine Care Center

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la eficacia de la cocción de la Uncaria tomentosa will "uña de gato" como tratamiento analgésico en pacientes adultos mayores con Gonartrosis atendidos en el Centro de Atención de Medicina Complementaria de ESSALUD ­ Trujillo, durante el periodo de Agosto a Setiembre del 2018, para lo cual se aplicó un diseño descriptivo de cohorte única ­ retrospectiva, con pre y post - prueba; reclutándose 37 historias clínicas de pacientes que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión, elegidas aleatoriamente. Se valoró la intensidad del dolor antes y después del tratamiento. Se encontró que EVA antes del tratamiento fue ≥ 5 en el 100% de los pacientes, con un promedio de 6.95 ±1.563 y después de administrarse el tratamiento, la intensidad del dolor disminuyó en un 89.19% en los pacientes cuyo rango de EVA fue ≤ 4 con un promedio de 2.89 ±1.612; prevaleciendo el dolor en el 10.81% de pacientes (EVA ≥ 5). Así mismo el promedio general de la disminución del dolor fue de 60.20 ±18.16, corroborándose con la prueba de Wilcoxon cuyo valor fue -5.383. Se concluyó que la cocción de la corteza de la Uncaria tomentosa will "uña de gato" fue eficaz como tratamiento analgésico en pacientes adultos mayores con Gonartrosis.

A survey of dioxin-like contaminants in fish from recreational fishing.

The dioxin and dioxin-like compounds are regarded as one of the most toxic group of environmental contaminants. Food for the commercial market is regularly monitored for their dioxin levels and the concentration allowed in food is strictly regulated. Less is known about locally caught fish from recreational fishing, which is often brought home for consumption. This can be fish caught from nearby lakes or streams or fish with marine origin close to industrial areas or harbours that are not regularly monitored for their dioxin levels. In this study, we established collaboration with schools in 13 countries. We received 203 samples of 29 different fish species of which Atlantic cod was the most abundant followed by brown trout and pollock. In general, the majority of samples from the participating countries had low concentrations (between 0.1 and 0.2 pg/g chemical-activated luciferase gene expression toxic equivalency wet weight (CALUX TEQ w.w.)) of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs. Only 18 samples had concentrations above 1 pg/g CALUX TEQ w.w., and only 2 dab samples had concentration above maximum levels set by the European Commission. The Atlantic cod samples showed a significant reduction in the concentrations of dioxins with increasing latitude indicating less contamination of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in the north of Norway. The results indicate that a moderate consumption of self-caught fish at presumed non-contaminated sites does not represent a major risk for exposure to dioxins or dioxin-like compounds at concentrations associated with adverse health effects. Recreational fishermen should, however, obtain knowledge about local fish consumption advice.

Effects of phenol and meta-cresol depletion on insulin analog stability at physiological temperature.

The stability of three commercial "fast-acting" insulin analogs, insulin lispro, insulin aspart, and insulin glulisine, was studied at various concentrations of phenolic preservatives (phenol and/or meta-cresol) during 9 days of incubation at 37 °C. The analysis by both size-exclusion and reversed-phase chromatography showed degradation of lispro and aspart that was inversely dependent on the concentration of phenolic preservatives. Insulin glulisine was much more stable than the other analogs and showed minimal degradation even in the absence of phenolic preservatives. With sedimentation velocity ultracentrifugation, we determined the preservatives' effect on the insulins' self-assembly. When depleted of preservatives, insulin glulisine dissociates from higher molecular weight species into a number of intermediate molecular weight species, in between monomer and hexamer, whereas insulin aspart and insulin lispro dissociate into monomers and dimers. Decreased stability of insulin lispro and insulin aspart seems to be because of the extent of dissociation when depleted of preservative. Insulin glulisine's dissociation to intermediate molecular weight species appears to help minimize its degradation during incubation at 37 °C.

Crystal structure and microstructure of synthetic hexagonal magnesium-cobalt cordierite solid solutions (Mg(2-2x)Co(2x)Al4Si5O18).

Co(2+)-containing cordierite glasses, of nominal compositions (Mg(1-x)Co(x))2Al4Si5O18 (with x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1), were prepared by melting colloidal gel precursors. After isothermal heating at 1273 K for around 28 h, a single-phase α-cordierite (high-temperature hexagonal polymorph) was synthesized. All materials were investigated using X-ray powder diffraction and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The crystal structure and microstructure were determined from X-ray diffraction patterns. Rietveld refinement confirmed the formation of magnesium-cobalt cordierite solid solutions. The unit-cell volume increased with the increase of cobalt content in the starting glass. The crystalline microstructure of the cordierites was interpreted using a mathematical model of a polycrystalline material and characterized by prevalent crystallite shape, volume-weighted crystallite size distribution and second-order crystalline lattice-strain distribution. Hexagonal prismatic was the prevalent shape of α-cordierite crystallites. Bimodality in the size distribution was observed and interpreted as a consequence of two paths of the crystallization: the nucleation from glass of µ-cordierite, which transformed into α-cordierite with annealing, or the nucleation of α-cordierite directly from glass at high temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy images agreed well with crystalline microstructure characteristics determined from the X-ray diffraction line-profile analysis.

Intrinsic fibrillation of fast-acting insulin analogs.

BACKGROUND: Aggregation of insulin into insoluble fibrils (fibrillation) may lead to complications for diabetes patients such as reduced insulin potency, occlusion of insulin delivery devices, or potentially increased immunological potential. Even after extensive investigation of fibril formation in regular human insulin, there are little published data about the intrinsic fibrillation of fast-acting analogs. This article investigates and compares the intrinsic fibrillation of three fast-acting insulin analogs--lispro, aspart, and glulisine--as a function of their primary protein structure and exclusive of the stabilizing excipients that are added to their respective commercial formulations. METHODS: The insulin analogs underwent a buffer exchange into phosphate-buffered saline to remove formulation excipients and then were heated and agitated to characterize intrinsic fibrillation potentials devoid of excipient stabilizing effects. Different analytical methods were used to determine the amount of intrinsic fibrillation for the analogs. After initial lag times, intrinsic fibrillation was detected by an amyloid-specific stain. Precipitation of insulin was confirmed by ultraviolet analysis of soluble insulin and gravimetric measurement of insoluble insulin. Electron microscopy showed dense fibrous material, with individual fibrils that are shorter than typical insulin fibrils. Higher resolution kinetic analyses were carried out in 96-well plates to provide more accurate measures of lag times and fibril growth rates. RESULTS: All three analogs exhibited longer lag times and slower intrinsic fibrillation rates than human insulin, with glulisine and lispro rates slower than aspart. This is the first study comparing the intrinsic fibrillation of fast-acting insulin analogs without the stabilizing excipients found in their commercial formulations. CONCLUSIONS: Data show different intrinsic fibrillation potentials based on primary molecular structures when the formulation excipients that are critical for stability are absent. Understanding intrinsic fibrillation potential is critical for evaluating insulin analog stability and device compatibility.

Grafted squaramide monoamine nanoparticles as simple systems for sulfate recognition in pure water.

New simple systems formed by a chain containing a squaramide function and a quaternised amine group attached to boehmite or silica-coated boehmite nanoparticles are able to discriminate anions in pure water.

Lanthanide complexes as imaging agents anchored on nano-sized particles of boehmite.

The synthesis of boehmite nanoparticles modified with lanthanides (Eu, Tb and Gd) is described. Their synthesis, characterization and in vitro assays with HeLa cells were performed. The nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) profiles of the two chelating moieties were studied. Imaging data from laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry revealed that the nanoscaffolds were taken up by the cells, distributed throughout the cytoplasm and showed no toxicity. This platform could represent an alternative to silica-based inert matrices as imaging vehicles.

Effect of water/carboxymethylcellulose gel on the excimer formation of polyamine ligands functionalized with naphthalene.

Formation of intramolecular excimers was studied for the compounds 6,20-bis-naphthalene-2-ylmethyl-3,6,9,17,20,23,29,30-octaaza-tricyclo[23.3.1.1] triaconta-1(29),11,13,15(30),25,27-hexane (L1), a bis-naphthalene derivative, and N1-(2-{bis-[2-(3-amino-propylamino)-ethyl]-amino}-ethyl)-propane-1,3-diamine (L2), a tris-naphthalene derivative, incorporated in gels of carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt. Excimers are formed through dynamic processes as well as from ground state dimers. A mathematical treatment including preformed dimers was used to split the static and dynamic contributions in the excimer/monomer emission ratio. In the case of compound L1, the activation energy for excimer formation in water is 11 kJ mol(-1) and experimental evidence that the dynamic terms are identical in water and in the gel was achieved. On the other hand, ground state dimers are extremely favorable in the gel with an equilibrium constant of 8.2 at 25 degrees C. On the contrary, in the case of compound L2, the ground state dimers are observed in water but not in the gel. The results were interpreted as reflecting a balance between specific interactions (hydrogen bond) and confinement effects.

Synthesis and coordination properties of an azamacrocyclic Zn(II) chemosensor containing pendent methylnaphthyl groups.

The synthesis of a polyazamacrocycle constituted by two diethylenetriamine bridges functionalized at their central nitrogen with naphth-2-ylmethyl units and interconnected through 2,6-dimethylpyridine spacers (L1) is reported. The protonation behaviour of the new macrocycle in water and in water-ethanol 70/30 v/v mixed solvent has been examined by means of pH-metric, UV-Vis and steady-state fluorescence techniques. The fluorescence emission is slightly quenched following the deprotonation of the central tertiary amines and more deeply quenched upon deprotonation of the secondary amino groups. pH-Metric titrations show that in water-ethanol 70/30 v/v L1 forms stable mononuclear complexes with the divalent transition and post-transition metal ions Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+. In the case of Cu2+, Zn2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+, formation of binuclear complexes has also been observed. Steady-state fluorescence emission studies show that while interaction with Cu2+ leads to quenching of the fluorescence emission above pH = 2, interaction with Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+ give rise to enhancements of the fluorescence above pH ca. 5, which is particularly noticeable in the case of Zn2+.

Anion detection by fluorescent Zn(II) complexes of functionalized polyamine ligands.

The Zn(2+) coordination chemistry and luminescent behavior of two ligands constituted by an open 1,4,7-triazaheptane chain functionalized at both ends with 2-picolyl units and either a methylnaphthyl (L1) or a dansyl (L2) fluorescent unit attached to the central amino nitrogen are reported. The fluorescent properties of the ZnL1(2+) and ZnL2(2+) complexes are then exploited toward detection of anions. L1 in the pH range of study has four protonation constants. The fluorescence emission from the naphthalene fluorophore is quenched either at low or at high pH values leading to an emissive pH window centered around pH = 5. In contrast, in L2 the fluorescence emission from the dansyl unit occurs only at basic pH values. In the case of L1, a red-shifted band appearing in the visible region was assigned to an exciplex emission involving the naphthalene and the tertiary amine of the polyamine chain. L1 forms Zn(2+) mononuclear complexes of ZnH(p)L1((p+2)+) stoichiometry with p = 1, 0, -1. Formation of the ZnL1(2+)species produces a strong enhancement of the L1 luminescence leading to an extended emissive pH window from pH = 5 to pH = 9. Addition of several anions to this last complex leads to a partial quenching effect. On the contrary, the fluorescence emission of L2 is partially quenched upon complexation with Zn(2+) in the same pH window (5 < pH < 9). The lower stability of ZnL2(2+) with respect to ZnL1(2+) suggests a lack of involvement of the sulfonamide group in the first coordination sphere. However, there is spectral evidence for an interesting photoinduced binding of the sulfonamide nitrogen to Zn(2+). While addition of diphosphate, triphosphate, citrate, and D,L-isocitrate to a solution of ZnL2(2+) restores the fluorescence emission of the system (lambda max ca. 600 nm), addition of phosphate, chloride, iodide, and cyanurate do not produce any significant change in fluorescence. Moreover, this system would permit one to differentiate diphosphate and triphosphate over citrate and d, l-isocitrate because the fluorescence enhancement observed upon addition of the first anions is much sharper. The ZnL2(2+) complex and its mixed complexes with diphosphate, triphosphate, citrate, and D,L-isocitrate have been characterized by (1)H, (31)P NMR, and Electrospray Mass Spectrometry.

One-pot preparation of surface modified boehmite nanoparticles with rare-earth cyclen complexes.

We report on the one-pot synthetic procedure of cyclen derivatives bearing three acetate groups attached on boehmite nanoparticles, the complexing capabilities of these inorganic-organic hybrid materials with rare earth cations, and the behaviour as contrast agents or fluorescence probes.

Microheterogeneous electrocatalytic chiral recognition at monoclinic vanadium-doped zirconias: enantioselective detection of glucose.

Synthetic tetragonal and monoclinic vanadium-doped zirconias (t- and m-VxZr1-xO2, 0.005 < x < 0.150) exert an effective catalytic effect toward the electrochemical oxidation of glucose in aqueous alkaline media. The catalytic effect of monoclinic specimens attached to carbon and fluorine-doped tin oxide electrodes exhibits a remarkable enantioselectivity, so that catalytic currents for the oxidation of L-glucose at +0.92 V vs AgCl/Ag are considerably larger than those obtained for the oxidation of D-glucose. This enantioselectivity can be associated with the existence of a noncentrosymmetric coordination of vanadium centers in the monoclinic crystalline form of zirconia. From the electrochemical results, it can be suggested that the electrocatalytic mechanism includes the formation of glucose-vanadium surface adducts and electron transfer between catalytic centers and the substrate. The interference from chloride ions in the electrocatalytic process is significantly decreased by covering the zirconia particles with a layer of amorphous silica. These results propose that incorporation of catalytically active centers into nonsentrosymmetric sites of inorganic crystalline materials can be taken as a plausible strategy for chiral recognition via electrocatalysis.

Relación entre el síndrome de burnout, psicopatología y ambiente en el trabajo de enfermeras de hospital general / Relation between burnout syndrome, psychopathology, and environment in the work of general hospital nurses

Objetivo: El presente estudio analiza la relación que existe entre el síndrome de burnout, diversos factores psicopatológicos y variables de ambientes en el trabajo. Método: El estudio se realizó en una muestra de 117 enfermeras de hospital general. Se utilizó el Maslach Burnout Inventory, la Symptom Checklist-90-Revisada y la Work Environmental Scale. Los datos fueron analizados mediante análisis factorial. Resultados: Se obtuvieron como resultado dos factores básicos: el primero en el que se relaciona la psicopatología con agotamiento emocional y otro en que se relaciona un ambiente en el trabajo positivo con buen logro personal. Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio apoya la idea de que además de estudiar variables organizacionales que se relacionan con el burnout, es necesario prestar atención a variables personales que pueden estar implicadas en el proceso del síndrome (AU)

Engineering porcine arteries: effects of scaffold modification.

Techniques have been developed to culture bovine or porcine vascular cells on polyglycolic acid (PGA) scaffolds to form engineered vessels. Previously, it was shown that smooth muscle cells (SMCs) that were in close proximity to PGA remnants after 8 weeks of culture had lower expression of SMC markers of differentiation and were more mitotic compared with SMCs that were distant from polymer residuals. Modifications of PGA were explored as a means to minimize residual polymer fragments after culture. To hasten degradation, polymer was treated with heat, NaOH, or gamma-irradiation. Differential scanning calorimetry, mass and tensile strength degradation, and inherent viscosity were used to assess polymer characteristics. When polymer was maintained in aqueous conditions, tensile strength of treated PGA degraded to zero within 3 weeks for each treatment. Engineered vessel constructs cultured on NaOH and gamma-treated polymer displayed smooth muscle alpha-actin throughout the vessel wall. Scaffold treatment impacted graft morphology, cellular differentiation, and mechanical integrity.