Tailoring Heat Transfer and Bactericidal Response in Multifunctional Cotton Composites.

Through the execution of scientific innovations, "smart materials" are shaping the future of technology by interacting and responding to changes in our environment. To make this a successful reality, proper component selection, synthesis procedures, and functional active agents must converge in practical and resource-efficient procedures to lay the foundations for a profitable and sustainable industry. Here we show how the reaction time, temperature, and surface stabilizer concentration impact the most promising functional properties in a cotton-based fabric coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs@cotton), i.e., the thermal and bactericidal response. The coating quality was characterized and linked to the selected synthesis parameters and correlated by a parallel description of "proof of concept" experiments for the differential heat transfer (conversion and dissipation properties) and the bactericidal response tested against reference bacteria and natural bacterial populations (from a beach, cenote, and swamp of the Yucatan Peninsula). The quantification of functional responses allowed us to establish the relationship between (i) the size and shape of the AgNPs, (ii) the collective response of their agglomerates, and (iii) the thermal barrier role of a surface modifier as PVP. The procedures and evaluations in this work enable a spectrum of synthesis coordinates that facilitate the formulation of application-modulated fabrics, with grounded examples reflected in "smart packaging", "smart clothing", and "smart dressing".

Tuberculosis vertebral posterior a infección por SARS-CoV-2 en un niño: reporte de caso / Spinal tuberculosis in a child following infection with SARS-CoV-2: a case report

Introducción. La tuberculosis osteoarticular en niños es una condición infrecuente que representa un pequeño porcentaje de las infecciones extrapulmonares por Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Presentación del caso. Niño de 30 meses con antecedente de que COVID-19 que fue llevado al servicio de urgencias por dolor en la marcha, imposibilidad para la bipedestación y dolor severo en posición decúbito. El paciente tenía niveles de reactantes de fase aguda elevados y mediante tomografía computarizada y resonancia magnética nuclear se evidenció destrucción de L3 con pérdida de la médula ósea, colapso vertebral y colección de fluido, así como compromiso de L4. Posteriormente, en una biopsia abierta se encontró colección de fluido con secreción, con resultado negativo en cultivos de bacterias y resultado positivo en prueba molecular de detección de Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Una semana después del ingreso, se inició manejo farmacológico antituberculoso y se inmovilizó con ortesis toracolumbosacra. En un nuevo ingreso al servicio de urgencias, se realizó drenaje quirúrgico por dehiscencia de la herida, secreción y febrícula. Sin embargo, en un control posterior se encontró espondilodiscitis en L3 y L4, y abscesos epidurales. Finalmente, una vez terminado el manejo con ortesis, en un último control se observó que el paciente presentaba cifosis toracolumbar residual, pero no tenía signos de compromisos radicular o medular, ni de déficit osteoarticular.Conclusión. La tuberculosis vertebral es una condición infrecuente en población pediátrica, por lo que es importante tener una sospecha clínica en todos los niños con síntomas típicos de la enfermedad.

Introduction: Osteoarticular tuberculosis in children is a rare condition that accounts for a small percentage of extrapulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections. Case presentation: A 30-month-old boy with a history of COVID-19 was taken to the emergency department due to antalgic pain, inability to stand up straight, and severe pain in decubitus position. The patient had elevated acute phase reactants levels, and computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed destruction of L3 with bone marrow loss, vertebral collapse, and fluid collection, as well as involvement of L4. An open biopsy showed fluid collection with secretion, negative bacterial cultures, and positive molecular test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. One week after admission, antitubercular pharmacological treatment was started and the patient was immobilized with a thoracolumbosacral orthosis. In a new admission to the emergency department, surgical drainage was performed due to wound dehiscence, secretion, and low-grade fever. However, in a subsequent follow-up, spondylodiscitis was found at L3 and L4, as well as epidural abscesses. Finally, once the orthosis management was completed, during a last follow-up, it was observed that the patient had residual thoracolumbar kyphosis, but no signs of radicular or spinal cord involvement, or osteoarticular deficit.Conclusion: Spinal tuberculosis is a rare condition in the pediatric population, so clinical suspicion in all children with typical symptoms of the disease is always important

The effectiveness of a "EspaiJove.net"- a school-based intervention programme in increasing mental health knowledge, help seeking and reducing stigma attitudes in the adolescent population: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of the universal mental health literacy intervention "EspaiJove.net" in increasing mental health knowledge, help seeking and reducing stigma attitudes in the adolescent population. We also examine whether these effects depend on the intervention intensity.  METHODS: A clustered school-based randomised controlled trial (cRCT) design. SUBJECTS: 1,298 secondary pupils aged 13 and 14 were recruited from 18 schools in Barcelona (Spain) between September 2016 and January 2018. INTERVENTION: Three programmes were assessed: 1) Sensitivity Programme (SP; 1 h); 2) Mental Health Literacy (MHL; 6 h); 3) MHL plus a first-person Stigma Reduction Programme (MHL + SR; 7 h); 4) Control group (CG): waiting list. OUTCOME MEASURES: 1) MHL: EspaiJove.net EMHL Test (First part and Second Part); 2) Stigma: RIBS and CAMI; 3) Help-seeking and use of treatment: GHSQ. ANALYSIS: The data was collected at baseline, post-intervention and 6 and 12 months later. An intention-to-treat analysis and imputation method was used to analyse the missing data. Intervention effects were analysed using multilevel modelling. RESULTS: One thousand thirty-two students were included (SP = 225; MHL = 261; MHL + SR = 295 and CG = 251). The MHL and MHL + SR interventions showed short- and long-term an increase in knowledge compared to SP and CG, but no significant change post-intervention or over time (First part p = 0.52 and Second part p = 0.62) between intervention groups and CG. No significant changes were found in stigma scores post-intervention or over time (CAMI p = 0.61 and RIBS p = 0.98) or in help-seeking scores (parent p = 0.69; teacher p = 0.23 and healthcare professional p = 0.75). The MHL + SR intervention was the best valued and recommended (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The three interventions of the EspaiJove.net programme (SP, MHL and MHL + SR) seem not to be effective in terms MHL, Stigma and help-seeking behaviours. The contact with a person who has experimented mental illness first-hand did not reduce stigma attitudes. Further research should deal with the heterogeneity of MHL interventions (concept, duration and measures) and identify which components of stigma interventions are effective. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03215654 (registration date 12 July 2017).

Heat Transfer in Cassava Starch Biopolymers: Effect of the Addition of Borax.

In recent years, polymer engineering, at the molecular level, has proven to be an effective strategy to modulate thermal conductivity. Polymers have great applicability in the food packaging industry, in which transparency, lightness, flexibility, and biodegradability are highly desirable characteristics. In this work, a possible manner to adjust the thermal conductivity in cassava starch biopolymer films is presented. Our approach is based on modifying the starch molecular structure through the addition of borax, which has been previously used as an intermolecular bond reinforcer. We found that the thermal conductivity increases linearly with borax content. This effect is related to the crosslinking effect that allows the principal biopolymer chains to be brought closer together, generating an improved interconnected network favoring heat transfer. The highest value of the thermal conductivity is reached at a volume fraction of 1.40% of borax added. Our analyses indicate that the heat transport improves as borax concentration increases, while for borax volume fractions above 1.40%, heat carriers scattering phenomena induce a decrement in thermal conductivity. Additionally, to obtain a deeper understanding of our results, structural, optical, and mechanical characterizations were also performed.

Liver Growth Factor Induces Glia-Associated Neuroprotection in an In Vitro Model of Parkinson´s Disease.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive death of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN), which leads to a loss of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the basal ganglia. Current treatments relieve the symptoms of the disease, but none stop or delay neuronal degeneration. Liver growth factor (LGF) is an albumin-bilirubin complex that stimulates axonal growth in the striatum and protects DA neurons in the SN of 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats. Our previous results suggested that these effects observed in vivo are mediated by microglia and/or astrocytes. To determine if these cells are LGF targets, E14 (embryos from Sprague Dawley rats of 14 days) rat mesencephalic glial cultures were used. Treatment with 100 pg/mL of LGF up-regulated the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and the cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation in glial cultures, and it increased the microglia marker Iba1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) protein levels. The treatment of E14 midbrain neurons with a glial-conditioned medium from LGF-treated glial cultures (GCM-LGF) prevented the loss of DA neurons caused by 6-hydroxy-dopamine. This neuroprotective effect was not observed when GCM-LGF was applied in the presence of a blocking antibody of TNF-alpha activity. Altogether, our findings strongly suggest the involvement of microglia and TNF-alpha in the neuroprotective action of LGF on DA neurons observed in vitro.

Two-Dimensional Phonon Polariton Heat Transport.

As is well-known, the phonon and electron thermal conductivity of a thin film generally decreases as its thickness scales down to nanoscales due to size effects, which have dramatic engineering effects, such as overheating, low reliability, and reduced lifetime of processors and other electronic components. However, given that thinner films have higher surface-to-volume ratios, the predominant surface effects in these nanomaterials enable the transport of thermal energy not only inside their volumes but also along their interfaces. In polar nanofilms, this interfacial transport is driven by surface phonon polaritons, which are electromagnetic waves generated at mid-infrared frequencies mainly by the phonon-photon coupling along their surfaces. Theory predicts that these polaritons can enhance the in-plane thermal conductivity of suspended silica films to values higher than the corresponding bulk one, as their thicknesses decrease through values smaller than 200 nm. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate this thermal conductivity enhancement. The results show that the in-plane thermal conductivity of a 20 nm thick silica film at room temperature is nearly twice its lattice vibration counterpart. Additional thermal diffusivity measurements reveal that the diffusivity of a silica film also increases as its thickness decreases, such that the ratio of thermal conductivity/thermal diffusivity (volumetric heat capacity) remains nearly independent of the film thickness. The experimental results obtained here will enable one to build on recent interesting theoretical predictions, highlight the existence of a new heat channel at the nanoscale, and provide a new avenue to engineer thermally conductive nanomaterials for efficient thermal management.

Thermophysical characterisation of VO2 thin films hysteresis and its application in thermal rectification.

Hysteresis loops exhibited by the thermophysical properties of VO2 thin films deposited on either a sapphire or silicon substrate have been experimentally measured using a high frequency photothermal radiometry technique. This is achieved by directly measuring the thermal diffusivity and thermal effusivity of the VO2 films during their heating and cooling across their phase transitions, along with the film-substrate interface thermal boundary resistance. These thermal properties are then used to determine the thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity of the VO2 films. A 2.5 enhancement of the VO2 thermal conductivity is observed during the heating process, while its volumetric heat capacity does not show major changes. This sizeable thermal conductivity variation is used to model the operation of a conductive thermal diode, which exhibits a rectification factor about 30% for small temperature differences (≈70 °C) on its terminals. The obtained results grasp thus new insights on the control of heat currents.

"EspaiJove.net"- a school-based intervention programme to promote mental health and eradicate stigma in the adolescent population: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: One half of adults who develop any mental disorder do so during adolescence. Previous literature showed that Mental Health Literacy (MHL) interventions impact mental health knowledge, reduce the associated stigma, and promote help-seeking among the adolescent population. However, evidence for the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these programmes remains inconclusive. The aim of this paper is to present a study protocol that evaluates the effectiveness of the " EspaiJove.net " programme. " EspaiJove.net " consists of a universal MHL intervention designed to promote mental health knowledge, increase help-seeking, reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, and prevent mental disorders in Spanish school settings. METHODS: A school-based clustered randomised controlled trial (cRCT) design with 12 months of follow-up. SUBJECTS: At least 408 secondary school students who attend the 3rd year of E.S.O (Compulsory secondary education for 13- to 14-year- olds) will be recruited from 8 schools within Barcelona city, Catalonia (Spain). INTERVENTION: A dose-response intervention will be delivered with 4 arms: 1) Sensitivity Programme (SP) in Mental Health (1 h); 2) Mental Health Literacy (MHL) Programme (6 h); 3) MHL plus first-person Stigma Reduction (MHL + SR) (7 h); 4) Control group: waiting list. Primary outcomes: 1) MHL: EspaiJove.net MHL Test (EMHLT); 2) Stigma: Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS) and Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill (CAMI). Others outcomes: 1) Acceptability of intervention; 2) Mental health symptoms and emotional well-being (SDQ); 3) States of Change Scale (SCS); 4) Bullying and Cyberbullying; 5) Quality of life (EQ-5D); 6) Help seeking and use of treatment; 7) Health benefits. DISCUSSION: Results would be informative for efforts to prevent mental disorders and promote mental wellbeing in secondary school students. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03215654 (date registration July 12, 2017).

Evaluación de un programa de alfabetización en salud mental para adolescentes / Evaluation of a mental Health literacy programme for adolescents / Avaluació d'un programa d’alfabetització en salut mental per a adolescents

El proyecto Espaijove.net es un programa de alfabetización en salud mental que tiene como finalidad la promoción de la salud mental, la prevención de los trastornos mentales y la erradicación del estigma en los jóvenes escolarizados. Durante los tres cursos escolares 2012 a 2015 se ha realizado formación a 5.231 jóvenes, de los cuales 2.813 cumplimentaron un cuestionario de satisfacción post-formación, con los siguientes resultados: 91 % le ha parecido interesante y útil, 85,4 % satisfecho de haber participado, 73,7 % han resuelto sus dudas y el 78 % recomendaría realizar la actividad

The Espaijove.net (Young space) project is a mental health literacy program aimed at promoting mental health, preventing mental disorders and eradicating stigma in young people in school. During three school courses from 2012 to 2015, 5,231 young people were trained, 2,813 of whom completed a post training satisfaction questionnaire, with the following results: 91% found it interesting and useful, 85.4 % satisfied to have participated, 73.7 % have solved their doubts and 78 % would recommend doing the activity

El projecte Espaijove.net és un programa d'alfabetització en salut mental que té com a finalitat la promoció de la salut mental, la prevenció dels trastorns mentals i l'eradicació de l'estigma en els joves escolaritzats. Durant els tres cursos escolars 2012 a 2015, s'ha realitzat formació a 5.231 joves, 2.813 dels quals van omplir un qüestionari de satisfacció post-formació, amb els següents resultats: al 91 % li ha semblat interessant i útil, el 85,4 % se sent satisfet d'haver-hi participat, el 73,7 % ha resolt els seus dubtes i el 78 % recomanaria realitzar l'activita

Liver Growth Factor (LGF) Upregulates Frataxin Protein Expression and Reduces Oxidative Stress in Friedreich's Ataxia Transgenic Mice.

Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is a severe disorder with autosomal recessive inheritance that is caused by the abnormal expansion of GAA repeat in intron 1 of FRDA gen. This alteration leads to a partial silencing of frataxin transcription, causing a multisystem disorder disease that includes neurological and non-neurological damage. Recent studies have proven the effectiveness of neurotrophic factors in a number of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, we intend to determine if liver growth factor (LGF), which has a demonstrated antioxidant and neuroprotective capability, could be a useful therapy for FA. To investigate the potential therapeutic activity of LGF we used transgenic mice of the FXNtm1MknTg (FXN)YG8Pook strain. In these mice, intraperitoneal administration of LGF (1.6 µg/mouse) exerted a neuroprotective effect on neurons of the lumbar spinal cord and improved cardiac hypertrophy. Both events could be the consequence of the increment in frataxin expression induced by LGF in spinal cord (1.34-fold) and heart (1.2-fold). LGF also upregulated by 2.6-fold mitochondrial chain complex IV expression in spinal cord, while in skeletal muscle it reduced the relation oxidized glutathione/reduced glutathione. Since LGF partially restores motor coordination, we propose LGF as a novel factor that may be useful in the treatment of FA.

Arthroscopic treatment for internal contracture of the shoulder secondary to brachial plexus birth palsy: report of a case series and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: Internal rotation contracture of the shoulder is a common complication in children with brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP), causing early functional limitation and glenohumeral dysplasia. Arthroscopic arthrolysis has recently been described as a treatment for the sequelae of this condition. METHODS: Review of five patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy by anterior capsulotomy and partial tenotomy of the subscapularis. Both clinical and functional assessments were made (Mallet classification). Perioperative monitoring was conducted using MRI and ultrasound. RESULTS: The diagnosis was BPBP of the upper trunks (C5-C6) in all five patients (four girls and one boy, with a mean age of 2.8 years). The mean follow-up period was 19.9 months (range 12.8-39.9). The mean improvement obtained was 3.8 points according to the Mallet classification, 48° of external rotation and 54° of shoulder abduction. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic arthrolysis of the shoulder in children with BPBP sequelae (internal rotation contractures) is a safe and effective procedure that produces clinical improvement in function and mobility.

Proliferative activity of liver growth factor is associated with an improvement of cigarette smoke-induced emphysema in mice.

Cigarette smoke (CS)-induced emphysema is a major component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD treatment is based on the administration of bronchodilators and corticosteroids to control symptoms and exacerbations, however, to date, there are no effective therapies to reverse disease progression. Liver growth factor (LGF) is an albumin-bilirubin complex with mitogenic properties, whose therapeutic effects have previously been reported in a model of emphysema and several rodent models of human disease. To approach the therapeutic effect of LGF in a model of previously established emphysema, morphometric and lung function parameters, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and the expression of several markers, such as VEGF, PCNA, 3NT and Nrf2, were assessed in air-exposed and CS-exposed C57BL/6J male mice with and without intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of LGF. CS-exposed mice presented a significant enlargement of alveolar spaces, higher alveolar internal area and loss of lung function that correlated with higher MMP activity, higher expression of 3NT and lower expression of VEGF. CS-exposed mice injected with LGF, showed an amelioration of emphysema and improved lung function, which correlated with lower MMP activity and 3NT expression and higher levels of VEGF, PCNA and Nrf2. Taken together, this study suggests that LGF administration ameliorates CS-induced emphysema, highlights the ability of LGF to promote alveolar cell proliferation and may be a promising strategy to revert COPD progression.

Neuroprotective role of liver growth factor "LGF" in an experimental model of cerebellar ataxia.

Cerebellar ataxias (CA) comprise a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by a lack of motor coordination. They are caused by disturbances in the cerebellum and its associated circuitries, so the major therapeutic goal is to correct cerebellar dysfunction. Neurotrophic factors enhance the survival and differentiation of selected types of neurons. Liver growth factor (LGF) is a hepatic mitogen that shows biological activity in neuroregenerative therapies. We investigate the potential therapeutic activity of LGF in the 3-acetylpiridine (3-AP) rat model of CA. This model of CA consists in the lesion of the inferior olive-induced by 3-AP (40 mg/kg). Ataxic rats were treated with 5 µg/rat LGF or vehicle during 3 weeks, analyzing: (a) motor coordination by using the rota-rod test; and (b) the immunohistochemical and biochemical evolution of several parameters related with the olivo-cerebellar function. Motor coordination improved in 3-AP-lesioned rats that received LGF treatment. LGF up-regulated NeuN and Bcl-2 protein levels in the brainstem, and increased calbindin expression and the number of neurons receiving calbindin-positive projections in the cerebellum. LGF also reduced extracellular glutamate and GABA concentrations and microglia activation in the cerebellum. In view of these results, we propose LGF as a potential therapeutic agent in cerebellar ataxias.

Trastornos hematopoyéticos en trabajadores expuestos a radiaciones ionizantes / Hematopoietic disease in workers exposed to ionizing radiation

Los estándares de protección radiológica, se derivan de estimaciones principalmente de estudios epidemiológicos de los supervivientes japoneses de los bombardeos atómicos de Hiroshima y Nagasaki. El reciente accidente nuclear en Fukushima nos muestra que no estamos seguros y despierta el interés de conocer los efectos biológicos de las radiaciones ionizantes a dosis bajas por exposición laboral, mostrando la evidencia epidemiológica, relacionando las dosis y el tiempo de exposición, edad riesgo y tiempo de aparición de trastornos hematopoyéticos. La búsqueda bibliográfica se realizó mediante la selección de los términos MeSH y DeCS para buscar en las diferentes bases de datos. 82 estudios recuperados, más 14 estudios vía búsqueda manual, tras aplicarles los criterios de inclusión y exclusión se seleccionaron para revisión a texto completo 11 estudios: 4 cohorte y 7 casos y controles. En nuestra revisión hemos encontrado asociación para el desarrollo de Leucemia, P=0.03 con dosis <10 mSv de por vida, Mieloma Múltiple (MM) P=0.037, Leucemia Linfoide Crónica ERR: 4.09 Gy 95% CI:<0-14.41. Encontramos que existe asociación significativa entre exposición laboral a radiaciones ionizantes a bajas dosis y el desarrollo de Leucemia y Mieloma Múltiple. Se encontró evidencia de riesgo aumentado de padecer leucemia (excluyendo LLC) con tiempo de exposición mayor de 10 años y con dosis promedio de exposición <10 mSv. Existe evidencia en relación a la aparición de trastornos hematopoyéticos radioinducidos en el rango de 55-65 años coincidiendo con los últimos diez años de vida laboral. El hallazgo de una sugerente relación entre LLC y la exposición laboral a bajas dosis de radiaciones ionizantes deja la puerta abierta para futuras investigaciones

The actual Radiation protection standards are derived from estimates of epidemiological studies of Japanese survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The recent nuclear accident in Fukushima shows us that we are not safe at all and arouses the interest of knowing the biological effects of low dose of ionizing radiation in occupational exposure, showing the epidemiological evidence, relating the dose and duration of exposure, age and time of onset risk of hematopoietic disorders. The bibliographic research was conducted by selecting MeSH and DeCS terms to search different databases. 82 studies retrieved over 14 studies by manual search, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria applied were selected for full text review 11 studies. 4 cohort and 7 case and controls. In our review we found association for the development of leukemia, P = 0.03 with doses <10 mSv lifetime, Multiple Myeloma (MM) P = 0.037, ERR Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 4.09 Gy 95% CI: <0-14.41. We found a significant association between occupational exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation and the development of leukemia and multiple myeloma. We found evidence of increased risk of leukemia (excluding CLL) with exposure time over 10 years and average exposure doses <10 mSv. There is evidence in relation to the appearance of hematopoietic disorders induced by radiation in the range of 55-65 years to coincide with the last ten years of work life. The finding of a suggestive relationship between LLC and occupational exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation leaves the door open for future research

Neuroprotective activity of peripherally administered liver growth factor in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Liver growth factor (LGF) is a hepatic mitogen purified some years ago that promotes proliferation of different cell types and the regeneration of damaged tissues, including brain tissue. Considering the possibility that LGF could be used as a therapeutic agent in Parkinson's disease, we analyzed its potential neuroregenerative and/or neuroprotective activity when peripherally administered to unilaterally 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats. For these studies, rats subjected to nigrostriatal lesions were treated intraperitoneally twice a week with LGF (5 microg/rat) for 3 weeks. Animals were sacrificed 4 weeks after the last LGF treatment. The results show that LGF stimulates sprouting of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive terminals and increases tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter expression, as well as dopamine levels in the denervated striatum of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. In this structure, LGF activates microglia and raises tumor necrosis factor-alpha protein levels, which have been reported to have a role in neuroregeneration and neuroprotection. Besides, LGF stimulates the phosphorylation of MAPK/ERK1/2 and CREB, and regulates the expression of proteins which are critical for cell survival such as Bcl2 and Akt. Because LGF partially protects dopamine neurons from 6-OHDA neurotoxicity in the substantia nigra, and reduces motor deficits in these animals, we propose LGF as a novel factor that may be useful in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Tuberculosis in indigenous communities of Antioquia, Colombia: epidemiology and beliefs.

Morbidity and mortality caused by tuberculosis are increased in most of the Latin-American indigenous communities. Factors that could explain this situation are poverty and limited health services access due to social conflicts and geographical isolation. We determined the frequency of tuberculosis in Colombian indigenous communities and described their knowledge related to transmission and control. We developed a descriptive study and health survey. Interviews were performed to find ancestral knowledge about tuberculosis. Sputum samples from patients with respiratory symptoms were analyzed. 10 indigenous communities were studied, which tuberculosis incidence was 291/100,000. Communities believe that tuberculosis is a body and spirit disease, which transmission is by direct contact or by witchcraft. Tuberculosis incidence in the studied communities was ninefold higher than that of the general population from Antioquia Department. Knowledge exchange could facilitate the community empowerment and implementation of educational activities which might improve the control of the disease.

Liver growth factor promotes the survival of grafted neural stem cells in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) with self-renewal and multilineage potential are considered good candidates for cell replacement of damaged nerve tissue. Several studies have focused on the ability of the neurotrophic factors coadministration to improve the efficiency of grafted NSCs. Liver growth factor (LGF) is an hepatic mitogen that promotes regeneration of damaged tissues, including brain tissue. It has neurogenic activity and has partially restored the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in an experimental model of Parkinson's disease. Present results demonstrate that in the dopamine- depleted striatum of 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats, grafted NSCs retained their ability to differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. NSCs also differentiated into microglia/macrophages and endothelial cells. Thus, 23 ± 5.6% of them were inmunoreactive for isolectin IB4, and a small population integrated into blood vessels, showing an endothelial-like morphology. Intrastriatal infusion of LGF promoted the viability of the implants, and favored their differentiation to an endothelial-like phenotype. Moreover, LGF infusion raised the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 by 3.9 ± 0.9 fold without affecting the levels of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Since LGF-treated rats also showed a significant reduction in apomorphine-induced rotational behavior, our results suggest that administration of this factor might be a convenient treatment for Parkinson's disease cell replacement therapies based on NSCs transplantation.

On the stability of the exact solutions of the dual-phase lagging model of heat conduction.

The dual-phase lagging (DPL) model has been considered as one of the most promising theoretical approaches to generalize the classical Fourier law for heat conduction involving short time and space scales. Its applicability, potential, equivalences, and possible drawbacks have been discussed in the current literature. In this study, the implications of solving the exact DPL model of heat conduction in a three-dimensional bounded domain solution are explored. Based on the principle of causality, it is shown that the temperature gradient must be always the cause and the heat flux must be the effect in the process of heat transfer under the dual-phase model. This fact establishes explicitly that the single- and DPL models with different physical origins are mathematically equivalent. In addition, taking into account the properties of the Lambert W function and by requiring that the temperature remains stable, in such a way that it does not go to infinity when the time increases, it is shown that the DPL model in its exact form cannot provide a general description of the heat conduction phenomena.

El factor de crecimiento de hígado mejora la fibrosis pulmonar inducida tras la administración de cadmio en ratas / Liver growth factor improves pulmonary fibrosis secondary to cadmium administration in mice

IntroducciónEl liver growth factor (LGF, ‘factor de crecimiento de hígado’) es un mitógeno con actividad regeneradora y antifibrótica con actividad incluso en localizaciones extrahepáticas. En este trabajo se administró LGF en un modelo de fibrosis pulmonar inducido con cloruro de cadmio (CdCl2) para estudiar su capacidad antifibrótica.MétodosSe instilaron 42 ratas Wistar macho con 0,5ml/rata de CdCl2 al 0,025% (n=21) o de salino (n=21). Transcurridos 35 días y una vez establecida la lesión se realizó el tratamiento con LGF y posteriormente el análisis de los parámetros funcionales —capacidad inspiratoria (CI), complianza pulmonar (CL), capacidad vital forzada (CVF) y flujo espiratorio forzado al 75% (FEF75%)—, morfometría —área interna alveolar y distancia media entre paredes alveolares— y contenido en colágeno y elastina.ResultadosLa fibrosis pulmonar originada mediante CdCl2 se caracterizó por un marcado descenso de la función pulmonar en comparación con los controles. Se redujó un 28% la CI, un 38% la CL, un 31% la CVF y un 54% la FEF75%, descenso que se revirtió parcialmente tras la inyección de LGF —el 18% en CI, el 27% en CL, el 19% en CVF y el 35% en FEF75&%#x02014;. Además, se observó un incremento en la cantidad de colágeno y elastina del 165 y el 76%, respectivamente, en las ratas del grupo CdCl2 frente a un 110 y un 34% tras la inyección de LGF.ConclusionesEstos datos demuestran que el LGF mejora la función pulmonar y revierte parcialmente el incremento de las proteínas de matriz pulmonar producido por la instilación con CdCl2(AU)

IntroductionLiver growth factor (LGF) is a liver mitogen with regenerating and anti-fibrotic activity even at extrahepatic sites. We used LGF in a lung fibrosis model induced by cadmium chloride (CdCl2), to study its antifibrotic capacity.MethodsForty-two male Wistar rats were administered a single dose of 0.5ml/rat of CdCl2 0.025% (n=21) or the same volume of saline (control group, n=21). After 35 days, once a lesion was established, we started a 3 week treatment with LGF, after which we determined lung function —inspiratory capacity (IC), lung compliance (LC), forced vital capacity (FVC) and expiratory flow at 75% (FEF75%)—, lung morphometry —alveolar internal area (AIA), mean linear intersection (LM)—, and collagen (both by Sirius red and hydroxyproline residues) and elastin contents.ResultsPulmonary fibrosis in CdCl2 rats was characterized by a marked decrease in pulmonary function with respect to healthy controls —reductions of 28% in IC, 38% in CL, 31% in FVC, and 54% in FEF75&%#x02014; which was partially recovered after LGF injection —18% IC, 27% CL, 19% FVC and 35% FEF75&%#x02014;; increase in collagen and elastin contents —165% and 76%, respectively, in CdCl2 rats, versus 110% and 34% after LGF injection—; and increases in AIA and LM, partially reverted by LGF. Conclusions: Together, these data seem to demonstrate that LGF is able to improve lung function and partially reverts the increase in lung matrix proteins produced by CdCl2 instillation(AU)

[Liver growth factor improves pulmonary fibrosis secondary to cadmium administration in rats]. / El factor de crecimiento de hígado mejora la fibrosis pulmonar inducida tras la administración de cadmio en ratas.

INTRODUCTION: Liver growth factor (LGF) is a liver mitogen with regenerating and anti-fibrotic activity even at extrahepatic sites. We used LGF in a lung fibrosis model induced by cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)), to study its antifibrotic capacity. METHODS: Forty-two male Wistar rats were administered a single dose of 0.5ml/rat of CdCl2 0.025% (n=21) or the same volume of saline (control group, n=21). After 35 days, once a lesion was established, we started a 3 week treatment with LGF, after which we determined lung function--inspiratory capacity (IC), lung compliance (LC), forced vital capacity (FVC) and expiratory flow at 75% (FEF75%)-, lung morphometry--alveolar internal area (AIA), mean linear intersection (LM)-, and collagen (both by Sirius red and hydroxyproline residues) and elastin contents. RESULTS: Pulmonary fibrosis in CdCl(2) rats was characterized by a marked decrease in pulmonary function with respect to healthy controls -reductions of 28% in IC, 38% in CL, 31% in FVC, and 54% in FEF75%- which was partially recovered after LGF injection -18% IC, 27% CL, 19% FVC and 35% FEF75%-; increase in collagen and elastin contents -165% and 76%, respectively, in CdCl2 rats, versus 110% and 34% after LGF injection-; and increases in AIA and LM, partially reverted by LGF. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these data seem to demonstrate that LGF is able to improve lung function and partially reverts the increase in lung matrix proteins produced by CdCl(2) instillation.