Porphyrin-based supramolecular nanofibres as a dynamic and activatable photosensitiser for photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents a promising treatment modality for a range of cancers and other non-malignant diseases due to its non-invasive nature arising from the light-dependent activation. However, PDT has not been the first-line treatment of cancer thus far as a consequence of, among others, the lack of effective transport and activation strategies, and the undesired side effect caused by skin photosensitisation induced by the "always on" photosensitisers. To overcome this "Achilles' heel", we present herein a non-covalent approach to construct a one-component dynamic supramolecular nanophotosensitising system based on a carefully designed porphyrin. The control of the photoactivities of the resulting supramolecular fibres lies in the spatiotemporal control of the monomer-polymer equilibrium. Both the thermodynamics and kinetics of this nanosystem have been carefully studied by different techniques. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo studies have also been performed, showing that these supramolecular aggregates exhibit facile cell internalisation and progressive disassembly after being endocyted by targeted cells, leading to activation of the photosensitising units and eventually cell death and tumour eradication under photoirradiation.

Germination response to water availability in populations of Festuca pallescens along a Patagonian rainfall gradient based on hydrotime model parameters.

Sensitivity to water availability is a key physiological trait for grassland species located in arid and semiarid environments, where successful germination is closely related to rainfall dynamics. Festuca pallescens inhabits diverse environments along a steep precipitation gradient in North Patagonia, thus offering a suitable model for the study of germination behavior in response to water availability. By analyzing germination in nine populations using a hydrotime model approach, we aimed to find within-species variation. Seed population behavior was analyzed under different hydric conditions using hydrotime model parameters (hydrotime, mean base water potential and its standard deviation). We estimated the mean base water potential for F. pallescens (ψb(50) = - 2.79 ± 0.45 MPa), which did not differ significantly between populations. However, the hydrotime parameter (θH) varied markedly, suggesting physiological adaptation to local environments. Higher values of θH were found in populations located at the extremes of the distribution gradient, indicating that germination may be prevented or delayed in conditions that are suboptimal for the species. Since the variation in hydrotime model parameters did not follow a cline, micro-environmental cues may have the greatest influence on the physiological behavior of the species, rather than the macroscale rainfall gradient.

¿La ingesta o suplementación con ácidos grasos omega-3 a partir de los 65 años influye en la función cognitiva? Resultados de una revisión sistemática / Does Omega-3 supplementation after the age of 65 influence cognitive function? Results of a systematic review

Fundamento: El porcentaje de poblacion de edad avanzada aumenta progresivamente y con ello las enfermedades asociadas a la edad como el deterioro cognitivo (DC) y la demencia. Distintos estudios sugieren que dietas ricas en acidos grasos poliinsaturados omega-3 (AGPI w-3) pueden reducir el riesgo de DC y demencia. El objetivo fue evaluar si existe evidencia sobre la relación entre la suplementacion con AGPI w-3 en pacientes ≥ 65 anos y la funcion cognitiva. Material y métodos: Se recuperaron 582 articulos relacionados con acidos grasos o AGPI w-3 y DC o demencia y se incluyeron seis estudios en esta revision. Resultados: Los estudios son heterogeneos respecto a poblacion estudiada, medicion de la exposicion y desenlace, no pudiendo realizarse una sintesis cuantitativa. Dos encontraron que la suplementacion con AGPI w-3 prevenia la enfermedad de Alzheimer y mejoraba el rendimiento cognitivo. Dos encontraron mejoria solo en la clasificacion analogica visual y fluencia verbal y otros dos no encontraron evidencia de proteccion. Conclusiones: No se encontro evidencia para sustentar o negar que la suplementacion con AGPI w-3 a partir de los 65 anos mejora el rendimiento cognitivo o previene la demencia (AU)

Background: The percentage of the older population is progressively increasing as are diseases associated with aging such as cognitive decline (CD) and dementia. Observational epidemiological studies suggest that diets rich in omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (w3-PUFA) might reduce the risk of CD and dementia. Methods: We used the PubMed data base to search for articles related to w3-PUFA and CD or dementia. Initially we identified 582 articles, after applying the eligibility criterion we included six studies in this systematic review. Results: The studies included were heterogeneous regarding population, measurement of exposure and outcome. Therefore, it was not possible to conduct a quantitative analysis. Two studies found that w3-PUFA supplementation decreased the risk of Alzheimer and improved cognitive performance. Two studies found an improvement in only one of the domains of cognitive performance (visual analogical classification and verbal fluency) and another two did not find any evidence of protection. Conclusions: We found few studies to support or refute the evidence that w3-PUFA supplementation in patients aged 65 or older improves cognitive performance or prevents dementia (AU)

[Does Omega-3 supplementation after the age of 65 influence cognitive function? Results of a systematic review]. / ¿La ingesta o suplementación con ácidos grasos omega-3 a partir de los 65 años influye en la función cognitiva? Resultados de una revisión sistemática.

BACKGROUND: The percentage of the older population is progressively increasing as are diseases associated with aging such as cognitive decline (CD) and dementia. Observational epidemiological studies suggest that diets rich in omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (w3-PUFA) might reduce the risk of CD and dementia. The main objective was to assess whether there is sufficient scientific evidence about the relationship between w3-PUFA supplementation in patients aged 65 or older and cognitive performance. METHODS: We used the Pubmed data base to search for articles related to w3-PUFA and CD or dementia. Initially we identified 582 articles, after applying the eligibility criterion we included six studies in this systematic review. RESULTS: The studies included were heterogeneous regarding population, measurement of exposure and outcome. Therefore, it was not possible to conduct a quantitative analysis. Two studies found that w3-PUFA supplementation decreased the risk of Alzheimer and improved cognitive performance. Two studies found an improvement in only one of the domains of cognitive performance (visual analogical classification and verbal fluency) and another two did not find any evidence of protection. CONCLUSIONS: We found few studies to support or refute the evidence that w3-PUFA supplementation in patients aged 65 or older improves cognitive performance or prevents dementia.

High Blood Pressure States in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Associate Accelerated Vascular Aging, with a Higher Impact in Females' Arterial Properties.

The aims of the study were to determine (1) whether the presence of High blood pressure (HBP) states in the youth associate a steeper rate of age-related change in arterial geometrical and wall properties with respect to subjects with no previous cardiovascular risk factor (CRF) exposure, (2) in which parameters and in what magnitude, and (3) the existence of a gender-related difference in the impact of this condition on arterial properties. 300 individuals (mean/range: 15/4-29 years; 133 females) were included. Two groups were assembled: (1) Reference: nonprevious exposure to traditional CRF and (2) HBP: subjects with arterial hypertension and/or elevated blood pressure (BP) levels during the study. Additionally, HBP subjects were separated in BP-related subgroups. Measured parameters were (1) central (aortic) arterial BP and aortic pulse wave analysis parameters, (2) carotid and femoral artery local (pressure-strain elastic modulus) and regional (pulse wave velocity; PWV) stiffness, and (3) arterial diameters and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Age-related changes in these parameters (absolute values and z-scores) were explored by obtaining simple linear regression models for each group. HBP presented a steeper rate of change (accelerated vascular aging; VA) for most of the parameters assessed, mainly in central (aortic) hemodynamics. VA increased as the HBP level got higher. Both males' and females' aging rates were affected by this condition, but females presented a more marked relative age-related increase with HBP exposure. HBP states in the youth gradually associate accelerated VA, with a progressive hemodynamic-structural-functional onset of damage, with females presenting a more marked relative HBP-associated arterial repercussion.

Growing-Related Changes in Arterial Properties of Healthy Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Nonexposed to Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Analysis of Gender-Related Differences.

The aims of our work were to determine normal aging rates for structural and functional arterial parameters in healthy children, adolescents, and young adults and to identify gender-related differences in these aging rates. Methods. 161 subjects (mean: 15 years (range: 4-28 years), 69 females) were studied. Subjects included had no congenital or chronic diseases, nor had they been previously exposed to traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Arterial parameters assessed were (1) central blood pressure (BP) and aortic pulse wave analysis, (2) arterial local (pressure-strain elastic modulus) and regional (pulse wave velocity, PWV) stiffness, and (3) arterial diameters and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Simple linear regression models (age as the independent variable) were obtained for all the parameters and the resulting rates of change were compared between genders. Results. No gender-related differences were found in mean values of arterial structural and functional parameters in prepubertal ages (4-8 years), but they started to appear at ~15 years. Boys showed a greater rate of change for central systolic BP, central pulse pressure, CIMT, and carotid-femoral PWV. Conclusion. Gender-related differences in arterial characteristics of adults can be explained on the basis of different growing-related patterns between boys and girls, with no existing differences in prepubertal ages.

Functional diversity of phytochrome family in the control of light and gibberellin-mediated germination in Arabidopsis.

In several species, seed germination is regulated by light in a way that restricts seedling emergence to the environmental conditions that are likely to be favourable for the success of the new individual, and therefore, this behaviour is recognized to have adaptive value. The phytochromes are one of the most relevant photoreceptors involved in light perception by plants. We explored the redundancy and diversity functions of the phytochrome family in the control of seed responsiveness to light and gibberellins (GA) by using a set of phytochrome mutants of Arabidopsis. Our data show that, in addition to the well-known role of phyB in the promotion of germination in response to high red to far-red ratios (R/FR), phyE and phyD stimulate germination at very low R/FR ratios, probably by promoting the action of phyA. Further, we show that phyC regulates negatively the seed responsiveness to light, unravelling unexpected functions for phyC in seed germination. Finally, we find that seed responsiveness to GA is mainly controlled by phyB, with phyC, phyD and phyE having relevant roles when acting in a phyB-deficient background. Our results indicate that phytochromes have multiple and complex roles during germination depending on the active photoreceptor background.

On the relative stability of self-assembled metallosupramolecular subphthalocyanine capsules determined by ESI-Q-TOF tandem mass spectrometry.

A comparative study of the relative stability of subphthalocyanine metallosupramolecular capsules bearing different metals and ligands has been carried out by electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry experiments. The results highlight the trends in the strength of metal-nitrogen bonds as well as the 'trans effect' of certain ligands.

Main results of strategic noise maps and action plans in Navarre (Spain).

According to Directive 2002/49, strategic noise maps and their correspondent action plans were carried out in the Autonomous Community of Navarre, Spain. Six strategic noise maps were produced for 120 km of major roads as well as a strategic noise map for the Agglomeration of the Region of Pamplona (ARP) with a population of 280,199 inhabitants. In the ARP, a total of 36,400 people (13.0 %) are exposed to Ln levels over 55 dBA and 42,300 people (15.1 %) are exposed to Lden levels over 65 dBA. With regard to major roads, a total of 3,900 people are exposed to Ln levels over 55 dBA and 2,400 people are exposed to Lden levels over 65 dBA. When designing action plans, different prioritisation criteria concerning rank-based effectiveness measures (mainly the amount of people benefitting from them) were taken into account.

Enfermedad de Darier vesiculo ampollosa: descripción de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Vesiculobullous Darier’s disease: a case report and review of the literature

Describimos el caso de un varón de 57 años con enfermedad de Darier clásica diagnosticada a los 22 años que coincidente con una bronconeumonía muestra un brote de enfermedad de Darier vesículo-ampolloso. El brote remite con la curación del proceso infeccioso y retinoides sistémicos.Analizamos los posibles desencadenantes de la enfermedad de Darier vesículo-ampollosa en este caso, así como una revisión de todos los descritos hasta ahora en la bibliografía (AU)

A 57 years-old man with classical Darier’s disease diagnosed at 22 years is reported. The patient, coinciding with a bronchopneumonia, shows an outbreak of vesiculo-bullous Darier`s disease is reported. It disappears with the healing of the infection and systemic retinoids. We analyze the potential triggers of the vesiculo-bullous variant of Darier`s disease, as well as a review of the literature is performed (AU)

Are urban noise pollution levels decreasing?

The majority of acoustic impact studies developed over the last 50 years have used a similar acoustic parameter (L(eq), L(dn)) but the noise mapping methodology has been very uneven. The selection of the measurement points, the measurement periods, or the evaluation indices have not followed a unique criterion. Therefore, it is not possible to compare the sound pollution levels between different cities from those studies, at least in a rigorous sense. Even more, different studies carried out in the same city by different researchers during different years and using different methodologies are not conclusive whether the acoustic pollution increases or decreases. The present paper shows results, with statistical significance, about the evolution of the acoustic pollution obtained for two Spanish cities, Pamplona and Madrid. In both cases, it can be concluded that noise pollution decreases over time (P<0.01).

Strategic noise map of a major road carried out with two environmental prediction software packages.

The main objective of this study is to analyze the differences found in the results of noise mapping using two of the most popular software techniques for the prediction of environmental noise. The location selected to conduct the comparative study is an area encompassed by the ring road that surrounds the city of Pamplona and on a grid, with a total of 6 x 10(5) points, approximately. In fact, and as the Environmental Noise Directive points out, it is a major road designated by a Member State (Spain). Configuration of the calculation parameters (discretization of the sources, ground absorption, reflection order, etc.) was as equivalent as possible as far as programs allow. In spite of that, a great number of differences appear in the findings. Although in 95.5% of the points the difference in the noise level calculated from the two programs was less than 3 dB, this general statistic result concealed some great differences. These are due to the various algorithms that programs implement to evaluate noise levels. Most differences pertain to highly screened receivers or remote ones. In the former, the algorithm of visibility is the main cause of such differences. In the latter, differences are mainly brought about by a different implementation of the propagation under homogeneous and favorable atmospheric conditions from both software systems.

Post-assembly error-checking in subphthalocyanine based M3L2 metallosupramolecular capsules.

A kinetic mixture of self-assembled subphthalocyanine-based capsules was shown to gradually reorganize into its more stable symmetrical components by electrospray mass spectrometry.

Corioamnionitis por hongos / Fungal chorioamnionitis

La corioamnionitis candidiásica es un suceso raro que afecta al 0,8% de las embarazadas, pero que se asocia a malos resultados perinatales. No se conoce hoy en día, con exactitud, la etiopatogenia ni los factores implicados en el desarrollo de IIA candidiásica. Al igual que ocurre con las infecciones de causa bacteriana, aún no se dispone de una forma fiable de prevenir, detectar o tratar la IIA candidiásica que causa parto prematuro o aborto tardío. Se presenta un caso clínico de aborto tardío con informe histológico de corioamnionitis por hongos y se revisa la bibliografía en busca de las causas que lo producen, si se puede prevenir y su tratamiento (AU)

Mycotic vulvovaginitis (mostly due to Candida) during pregnancy has a reported incidence of 20%-25%. However, obstetric complications caused by this microorganism are rare, the incidence of chorioamnionitis being 0.8%. Intra-amniotic candidal infections can produce abortion, preterm delivery, rupture of membranes, and chorioamnionitis. We present a case of late spontaneous abortion with a histologic diagnosis of fungal chorioamnionitis and review the literature to identify causes, their possible prevention, and treatment (AU)

Vasculitis secundaria a lamotrigina. A propósito de un caso / Vasculitis secondary to lamotrigine. A case report

Los anticomiciales son un grupo medicamentoso con un gran índice de reacciones adversas cutáneas. Existen casos de vasculitis descritos en relación con carbamazepina y fenitoína, aunque no hemos encontrado ninguno en relación con lamotrigina. Presentamos una paciente de 37 años, con lesiones maculopapulosas diseminadas, algunas con hábito purpúrico, pruriginosas, sin manifestaciones sistémicas. Recibía tratamiento con labetalol y acenocumarol y desde hacía 6 semanas con lamotrigina por padecer crisis generalizadas tónico-clónicas. La biopsia cutánea fue descrita histológicamente como vasculitis. Se instauró tratamiento con corticoides orales sin mejoría, la cual se produjo al suspender lamotrigina. Las pruebas epicutáneas con lamotrigina resultaron negativas. Los fármacos son una causa conocida de vasculitis, cuya patogenia es incierta. En pacientes con vasculitis medicamentosa hay que realizar una analítica en busca de otras causas, incluyendo anticuerpos anticitoplasma de los neutrófilos (ANCA), realizar una historia cronológica de fármacos y rea-lizar pruebas epicutáneas, que no excluyen el diagnóstico si resultan negativas, aunque sí lo confirmarían en caso de ser positivas

Antiepileptic drugs are a pharmacological group with a great number of cutaneous adverse events. Vasculitis due to carbamazepine and phenytoin have been reported. However, we have not found any related to lamotrigine. We present a case of a 37 year-old woman who developed generalized and pruriginous maculopapular lesions, some of them purpuric, six weeks after starting lamotrigine for generalized epilepsy. She was also taking labetalol and acenocumarol. A skin biopsy specimen revealed vasculitis features and treatment with oral steroids was started, but the rash only disappeared with the withdrawal of lamotrigine. Epicutaneous patch tests with lamotrigine were negative. Drugs are a known cause of vasculitis, of uncertain pathogenesis. In patients presenting cutaneous vasculitis it is necessary to perform blood tests in search for other causes, including anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), to obtain a chronological history of drug intake and perform epicutaneous patch tests. The latter do not rule out the diagnosis when they are negative but they do confirm it when positive

Incidence and timing of infections after liver transplant in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Infections are one of the main complications that cause high morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients. This study sought to estimate the incidence of infections and their main determinants in liver transplant recipients in the first year after transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 103 consecutive patients (72% men) who underwent transplantation in three centers in Northern (Bologna) and Central (Rome) Italy in 2005. Person-years (PY) at risk, incidence rates (IR), IR ratios and 95% confidence intervals were computed for viral, fungal, and bacterial infections. RESULTS: The 103 patients (median age 55 years) contributed a total of 78.2 PYs, with a median follow-up of 286 days (interquartile range: 194 to 365 days). Fifty-eight patients (56.3%) experienced one or more infections, namely, 151 events (IR = 193.2 infections/100 PYs). IR for bacterial, fungal, and viral infections were 110.0, 56.3, and 26.9 infections/100 Pys, respectively. Within the first 30 days after transplantation, 37.9% patients (39/103) developed one or more events. Bacterial infections represented the most frequent event (86/151, 57.0%). Risk factors significantly associated with increased IR were gender (female), age (>50 years), prolonged intensive care stay volume of blood transfused during surgery and posttransplant, and need for retransplantation. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results showed the relevance of infectious events after liver transplantation especially those of bacterial etiology, and identified factors mainly associated with their occurrence.

Embarazo ectópico intersticial: ¿tratamiento médico o quirúrgico? / Interstitial ectopic pregnancy: medical or surgical treatment?

El embarazo ectópico intersticial es un suceso raro, con gran morbimortalidad para la paciente si se diagnostica de forma tardía. Las opciones actuales de tratamiento son el empleo de metotrexato o bien el tratamiento quirúrgico. No se ha establecido aún cuál de ellas es la mejor opción. En publicaciones recientes se considera que el tratamiento médico es un método aceptable si se hace una selección adecuada de la paciente y un seguimiento estricto tras la aplicación de metotrexato (AU)

Interstitial pregnancy is a rare event, which produces high morbidity and mortality if diagnosis is delayed. Current treatment options consist of methotrexate or surgery. Which of these two options is the most effective remains to be established. Recent publications consider medical treatment as an acceptable method when there is appropriate patient selection and close follow-up after methotrexate therapy (AU)

Las complicaciones de la herida quirúrgica en el trasplante renal / Complications of the surgical wound in kidney transplants

Observamos un empeoramiento en la evolución de las heridas quirúrgicas en el postoperatorio del trasplante renal. El comienzo de este problema se presenta al inicio del tratamiento con rapamicina combinado con otros inmunosupresores que ya utilizábamos. Objetivo. Valorar si se corresponde con la observación de enfermería, que el empeoramiento en la evolución de la herida quirúrgica del postrasplante renal, está en relación con el uso de rapamicina como inmunosupresor, añadido a los habituales factores de riesgo. Material y método. Estudio epidemiológico observacional de cohortes retrospectivo. Se estudió aun total de 56 pacientes trasplantados en nuestra unidad, desde el año 1999 hasta el 2003. Se seleccionan30 pacientes con la pauta habitual de inmunosupresión: corticoides, ciclosporina o tacrolimus, micofenolato mofetil, etc. y a 26 pacientes con similar tratamiento, pero asociado a la rapamicina. Resultados. La relación entre los días de exudado de la herida quirúrgica, en el postoperatorio de los pacientes del grupo tratado con rapamicina, es estadísticamente significativa en relación con el grupo que no lo toma, con una p = 0.016 (p< 0,05) en U de Mann Whitney. No siendo significativas las diferencias entre otras variables estudiadas

We note a worsening in the evolution of the surgical wounds in the post-operative kidney transplant. The problem starts at the beginning of treatment with rapamicin combined with other immunosuppressors we already used. Objective. To evaluate whether there is correspondence with the nursing observation that the poorer evolution of the postoperative surgical wound of kidney transplants are related to the use of rapamicinas an immunosuppressor, added to the habitual risk factors. Material and method. Retrospective observational epidemiological study of cohorts. A total 56 patients transplanted in our unit were studied from 1999 to2003. Thirty patients were selected with the usual immunosuppression tendency: corticoids, cyclosporin or tacrolimus, mofethyl micophenolate, etc. and 26patients with a similar treatment, but associated with rapamicin. Results. The relationship between the days of exudation of the surgical wound in the postoperative period of the patients of the group treated with rapamicinis statistically significant in relation to the group that did not take it, with p = 0.016 (p< 0.05)in U by Mann Whitney. The difference between other variables studied was not significant

Differential regulation of Th1/Th2 in relevant tissues for sepsis pathogenesis with a Limulus anti-LPS factor-derived peptide increases survival in Gram-positive sepsis.

Severe sepsis and septic shock are important causes of death in intensive care units. Although Gram-negative infections were predominant in the 1960s, Gram-positive infections have increased in the past two decades and now account for about half of the cases of severe sepsis. In this study, we examined the effect of a Limulus anti-LPS factor (LALF)-derived peptide on lung and liver Th1/Th2 cytokine mRNA levels during a Gram-positive sepsis. We also examined the morphopathological changes observed in these organs during the disease. Mice challenged with a high dose of Staphylococcus haemolyticus showed severe damage in lung. In contrast, the liver of challenged mice showed an accumulation of bacterial particles in the sinusoids, associated with a severe inflammatory response due to high levels of tissue mRNA proinflammatory cytokines. Treatment with the peptide LALF(32-51) ameliorated the sepsis-induced effects in the lung and liver and increased the survival of mice in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Pretreatment with the peptide LALF(32-51) differentially regulates TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-12p40, IL-2 and IL-10 mRNA levels in lung and liver of peptide-treated mice, and limits the systemic inflammatory response. These findings support for the first time the effectiveness of an LALF-derived peptide in the treatment of a Gram-positive sepsis. Modulation of the Th1/Th2 pattern in tissues relevant for sepsis correlates with an improved outcome of the disease as denoted by increased survival.