Rotating Micro-Spheres for adsorption monitoring at a fluid interface.

HYPOTHESIS: A broad range of phenomena, such as emulsification and emulsion stability, foam formation or liquid evaporation, are closely related to the dynamics of adsorbing colloidal particles. Elucidation of the mechanisms implied is key to a correct design of many different types of materials. EXPERIMENTS: Microspheres forced to rotate near a fluid interface exhibit a roto-translational hydrodynamic mechanism that is hindered by capillary torques as soon as the particles protrude the interface. Under these conditions, the time evolution in the ratio of moving spheres provides a direct description of the adsorption kinetics, while microscopy monitoring of particle acceleration\deceleration informs about the adsorption\desorption dynamics. In this work, the proposed strategy is applied at an air/water interface loaded with spherical magnetic particles negatively charged, forced to rotate by the action of a rotating magnetic field. FINDINGS: The proposed method enables the adsorption/desorption dynamics to be followed during the earliest phase of the process, when desorption of a small fraction of particles is detected, as well as to estimate approximated values of the adsorption/desorption constants. The results obtained show that the addition of a monovalent salt or a cationic (anionic) surfactant promotes (inhibits) both adsorption and formation of permanent bonds between particles.

Aggregation of discoidal particles due to depletion interaction.

Depletion interactions between colloids of discoidal shape can induce their self-assembly into columnar aggregates. This is an effect of entropic origin with important implications in a range of colloidal systems, particularly in the clustering of erythrocytes that determine the rheological properties of blood. Here, we investigate the equilibrium state reached by discoidal colloids in a solution of smaller depletant particles. We develop a thermodynamic model of depletion-induced aggregation based on self-assembly theory and solve it analytically. We test the validity of the model by using Langevin simulations of a system of discs and depletant particles in which the depletion interaction emerges naturally. In addition, we consider the effect of an attractive interaction between depletant and discoidal particles, which we show induces a re-entrant dependence of aggregation with temperature.

Exposure of Teramnus labialis (L.F.) Spreng Seeds to Liquid Nitrogen Does Not Affect Nutritional Status of Field Grown Adult Plants.

BACKGROUND: Teramnus labialis (L.f.) Spreng is a potentially important legume species, and can be used as an animal feed and to enhance soil physicochemical characteristics. Despite the biological and agricultural importance, the low availability of seeds, their small size and the low percentage germination limit their large-scale use by farmers. We previously reported a method to cryopreserve seeds of T. labialis which also allowed for the breaking of seed dormancy. OBJECTIVE: The current study reports on the nutritional status of 5 month old field grown plants regenerated from cryostored and control seeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biomass (fresh and dry mass of leaves and stems) and contents of ash, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin, cellulose, crude protein, P, Ca, Mg and K were measured. RESULTS: Seeds germinated and emerged faster following immersion in liquid nitrogen (LN) which was supported by quantitative evaluations of fresh and dry weights per m2. However, the ratio of leaf:stem mass were not altered by seed exposure to LN. CONCLUSION: The results showed that exposure of seeds to cryogenic temperatures did not alter the nutritional composition of regenerated plants.

Impact of phosphate dosing on the microbial ecology of drinking water distribution systems: Fieldwork studies in chlorinated networks.

Phosphate is routinely dosed to ensure regulatory compliance for lead in drinking water distribution systems. Little is known about the impact of the phosphate dose on the microbial ecology in these systems and in particular the endemic biofilms. Disturbance of the biofilms and embedded material in distribution can cause regulatory failures for turbidity and metals. To investigate the impact of phosphate on developing biofilms, pipe wall material from four independent pipe sections was mobilised and collected using two twin-flushing operations a year apart in a chlorinated UK network pre- and post-phosphate dosing. Intensive monitoring was undertaken, including turbidity and water physico-chemistry, traditional microbial culture-based indicators, and microbial community structure via sequencing the 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and the ITS2 gene for fungi. Whole metagenome sequencing was used to study shifts in functional characteristics following the addition of phosphate. As an operational consequence, turbidity responses from the phosphate-enriched water were increased, particularly from cast iron pipes. Differences in the taxonomic composition of both bacteria and fungi were also observed, emphasising a community shift towards microorganisms able to use or metabolise phosphate. Phosphate increased the relative abundance of bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Paenibacillus, Massilia, Acinetobacter and the fungi Cadophora, Rhizophagus and Eupenicillium. Whole metagenome sequencing showed with phosphate a favouring of sequences related to Gram-negative bacterium type cell wall function, virions and thylakoids, but a reduction in the number of sequences associated to vitamin binding, methanogenesis and toxin biosynthesis. With current faecal indicator tests only providing risk detection in bulk water samples, this work improves understanding of how network changes effect microbial ecology and highlights the potential for new approaches to inform future monitoring or control strategies to protect drinking water quality.

Probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics: useful for athletes and active individuals? A systematic review.

The purpose of this review was to synthesise available knowledge on the main health effects associated with the use of probiotics, prebiotics and/or synbiotics in athletes and active individuals, including their effects on the immune system, oxidative stress, the gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms, as well as other possible clinical outcomes. A systematic and comprehensive search in electronic databases, including Web of Science (WOS, Scielo), PubMed-MEDLINE, Biblioteca virtual de la Salud (LILACS, IBECS), EBSCO (Academic Search Complete CINAHL; SPORTDiscus) and Cochrane Library, focused on generic articles about probiotics, prebiotics and/or synbiotics and their functionality and effects on human health. The search process was completed using the keywords: 'probiotics', 'prebiotics', 'synbiotics', 'athletes' and 'health'. The only exclusion criterion was experimental studies with animals. A total of 31 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The vast majority were experimental studies about probiotics and health effects (n=28), while only a few demonstrated the results of consuming prebiotics and/or synbiotics (n=3) in athletes and active individuals. Although most of the studies reported positive health effects in athletes and active individuals, there is still no substantial scientific evidence to suggest that probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics play an important role in improving an athlete´s performance. These studies are currently limited in number and quality, hence it is necessary to improve the selection of functional biomarkers and methodological approaches, as well as determining the specific nutritional supplement and exercise doses.

Microbial diversity, ecological networks and functional traits associated to materials used in drinking water distribution systems.

Drinking water distribution systems host complex microbial communities as biofilms that interact continuously with delivered water. Understanding the diversity, behavioural and functional characteristics will be a requisite for developing future monitoring strategies and protection against water-borne health risks. To improve understanding, this study investigates mobilisation and accumulation behaviour, microbial community structure and functional variations of biofilms developing on different pipe materials from within an operational network. Samples were collected from four pipes during a repeated flushing operation three months after an initial visit that used hydraulic forces to mobilise regenerating biofilms yet without impacting the upstream network. To minimise confounding factors, test sections were chosen with comparable daily hydraulic regimes, physical dimensions, and all connected straight of a common trunk main and within close proximity, hence similar water chemistry, pressure and age. Taxonomical results showed differences in colonising communities between pipe materials, with several genera, including the bacteria Pseudomonas and the fungi Cladosporium, present in every sample. Diverse bacterial communities dominated compared to more homogeneous fungal, or mycobiome, community distribution. The analysis of bacterial/fungal networks based on relative abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) indicated microbial communities from cast iron pipes were more stable than communities from the non-ferrous pipe materials. Novel analysis of functional traits between all samples were found to be mainly associated to mobile genetic elements that play roles in determining links between cells, including phages, prophages, transposable elements, and plasmids. The use of functional traits can be considered for development in future surveillance methods, capable of delivering network condition information beyond that of limited conventional faecal indicator tests, that will help protect water quality and public health.

Persistencia de los criterios clínicos de bronquitis crónica en pacientes con EPOC: un análisis longitudinal de la cohorte TRACE / Persistence of clinical criteria for chronic bronchitis in patients with COPD: a longitudinal analysis of the TRACE cohort

OBJETIVO: evaluar la persistencia en el tiempo de los criterios clínicos de bronquitis crónica (BC) en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC), así como evaluar los determinantes clínicos potencialmente asociados a su presentación clínica y persistencia en el tiempo. MÉTODO: el estudio "Registro y análisis en el tiempo de resultados clínicos en EPOC" (Proyecto TRACE) es una cohorte de pacientes prospectiva que tiene por objetivo la descripción de la evolución clínica de los pacientes con EPOC con las herramientas básicas del clínico, en la que se recoge sistemáticamente la presencia de BC. Durante 4 años se recogió la presencia de BC en visitas anuales y se estudió su relación con la presentación clínica mediante un análisis multivariante expresando los resultados como odds ratio (OR) y su intervalo de confianza (IC) al 95%. RESULTADOS: la cohorte inicial estaba compuesta por 391 pacientes en la visita basal. La prevalencia de BC fue del 53,5% con 122 (31,2%) casos que mantenían criterios clínicos de bronquitis crónica en todas las visitas, mientras que 106 (27,1%) casos nunca presentaron criterios clínicos en ninguna de las visitas registradas. El análisis multivariante mostró una asociación entre tabaquismo activo y el grado de disnea con la persistencia de la BC en el tiempo. CONCLUSIONES: la presencia de BC es un hallazgo clínico frecuente en los pacientes con EPOC, pero variable en el tiempo. El tabaquismo activo y la intensidad de los síntomas parecen ser los principales factores asociados a su presentación. Estas conclusiones refuerzan la importancia de la intervención sobre el tabaquismo en pacientes diagnosticados de EPOC

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the persistence of the clinical criteria for chronic bronchitis over the years in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as to evaluate the clinical determiners potentially associated with the clinical presentation of the disease and their persistence over time. METHOD: the "Time-based Register and Analysis of COPD" (TRACE Project) is a prospective patient cohort whose objective is to describe the clinical evolution of patients with COPD using the clinical criteria which systematically reflect the presence of chronic bronchitis as the basic tools. The presence of chronic bronchitis over 4 years of annual visits was recorded and its relationship with clinical presentation was studied using a multivariate analysis expressing the results as an odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) of 95%. RESULTS: the initial cohort consisted of 391 patients at the baseline visit. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis was 53.5% with 122 (31.2%) cases maintaining the clinical criteria of chronic bronchitis across all visits, while 106 (27.1%) cases never showed clinical criteria in any of the recorded visits. The multivariate analysis showed an association between active tobacco use and the level of dyspnea with the persistence of chronic bronchitis over time. CONCLUSIONS: the presence of chronic bronchitis is a frequent clinical finding in patients with COPD but can vary over time. Active tobacco use and symptom intensity appear to be the main factors associated with its presentation. These conclusions reinforce the importance of tobacco use intervention in patients diagnosed with COPD

Hemobilia como complicación inusual de la biopsia hepática, hallazgos en resonancia magnética / Hemobilia as unusual complication of liver biopsy, magnetic resonance findings

No disponible

Adecuación de guías GOLD/gesEPOC en pacientes EPOC del ámbito Neumosur / Adapting the GOLD/GesEPOC guidelines in patients with COPD within the scope of Neumosur

INTRODUCCIÓN: El objetivo de nuestro estudio es conocer la implantación de las guías GOLD y GesEPOC en pacientes EPOC en las consultas de Neumología de Andalucía y Extremadura, para evaluar su variabilidad y los posibles factores determinantes. MÉTODOS: EPOCONSUL es un estudio en el que se realiza una auditoría de historias clínicas de pacientes con diagnóstico de EPOC. Se hace un estudio observacional en 62 centros de España. Se han extraído los datos de los centros del ámbito de NEUMOSUR para su análisis. Se analiza el grado de implantación de las guías GOLD y GesEPOC, así como la variabilidad en los distintos grados de enfermedad y fenotipos clínicos. RESULTADOS: Se ha analizado la historia clínica de 926 pacientes. El 32,8% estaban clasificados siguiendo la guía GOLD. De estos pacientes, el 36,2% estaban clasificados como grado A, 9,9% grado B, 22,3% grado C y el 31,6% como grado D. El 49,5% estaban clasificados siguiendo los criterios de GesEPOC. El 44,5% eran clasificados como fenotipo no agudizador, 14,9% fenotipo mixto EPOC-asma, 15,7% fenotipo agudizador con predomino de enfisema y 24,9% fenotipo agudizador con predominio de bronquitis crónica. CONCLUSIONES: En las consultas de neumología del ámbito de NEUMOSUR hay un mayor uso de los criterios de la guía GesEPOC que de la guía GOLD. Los grados más frecuentes son los de bajo riesgo y poco sintomáticos (A) seguidos de los de alto riesgo y muy sintomáticos (D). El fenotipo que con mayor frecuencia se atiende en la consulta es el no agudizado

INTRODUCTION: The objective of our study is to learn the implementation of the GOLD and Ges EPOC guidelines among patients with COPD at Pneumology departments in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura (Spain) to assess variability and possible determining factors. METHOD: EPOCONSUL is a study that audits the clinical histories of patients who have been diagnosed with COPD. An observational study in 62 centers in Spain is carried out. Data has been extracted from centers within the scope of NEUMOSUR (Pneumology Departments in Andalusia and Extremadura) for analysis. The degree to which the GOLD and GesEPOC guidelines are implemented were analyzed, as well as variability in the various degrees of the disease and clinical phenotypes. RESULTS: The clinical histories of 926 patients were analyzed. 32.8% were classified according to GOLD guidelines. Of these patients, 36.2% were classified as grade A, 9.9% as grade B, 22.3% as grade C and 31.6% as grade D. 49.5% of the cases were classified following GesEPOC criteria. 44.5% were classified as non-acute phenotype, 14.9% as mixed phenotype COPD-asthma, 15.7% as acute phenotype with a predominance of emphysema and 24.9% as acute phenotype with a predominance of chronic bronchitis. CONCLUSIONS: Within the scope of NEUMOSUR medical practices, there is a majority use of GesEPOC guidelines over GOLD guidelines. The most frequent degrees are those of low risk and barely symptomatic (A) followed by high risk and very symptomatic (D). The phenotype seen most frequently at practices is the non-acute type

Determination of anharmonic free energy contributions: Low temperature phases of the Lennard-Jones system.

We investigate a general method to calculate the free energy of crystalline solids by considering the harmonic approximation and quasistatically switching the anharmonic contribution. The advantage of this method is that the harmonic approximation provides an already very accurate estimate of the free energy, and therefore the anharmonic term is numerically very small and can be determined to high accuracy. We further show that the anharmonic contribution to the free energy satisfies a number of exact inequalities that place constraints on its magnitude and allows approximate but fast and accurate estimates. The method is implemented into a readily available general software by combining the code HOODLT (Highly Optimized Object Oriented Dynamic Lattice Theory) for the harmonic part and the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation package HOOMD-blue for the anharmonic part. We use the method to calculate the low temperature phase diagram for Lennard-Jones particles. We demonstrate that hcp is the equilibrium phase at low temperature and pressure and obtain the coexistence curve with the fcc phase, which exhibits reentrant behavior. Several implications of the method are discussed.

Valoración de la masa muscular por bioimpedancia en pacientes con EPOC / Assessmen tof musclemassusing bioelectricalimpedance in patients with COPD

OBJETIVO: recientemente se ha descrito un método para estimar la masa muscular total (MMT) a partir de los datos obtenidos en una bioimpedancia corporal. Los objetivos del presente trabajo fueron calcular diversos parámetros de MMT, a partir de los datos de la bioimpedancia y estudiar la relación entre estos parámetros y el resto de parámetros de bioimpedancia, así como su posible relación con parámetros clínicos y funcionales. MÉTODO: el presente trabajo es un estudio observacional transversal sobre pacientes con EPOC estable. A los pacientes incluidos se les realizó una evaluación clínica, funcional y de ejercicio. Mediante bioimpedancia, se calculó la MMT y tres parámetros asociados: su porcentaje respecto al peso total (MMTp), su porcentaje respecto a la masa magra y el índice de MMT. RESULTADOS: el grupo estaba compuesto por 85 pacientes con EPOC (79 hombres; edad 64(7) años; FEV1 61(9)%). Los hombres tenían significativamente mayor MMT que las mujeres (14,7(2,7) Kg vs 24,5(3,7) Kg, p < 0,001). Los valores de MMTp fueron los que tuvieron una mejor relación significativa, con parámetros de capacidad pulmonar (TLC r = 0,461, p < 0,001) y capacidad de ejercicio (consumo de oxígeno r = 0,325 p = 0,024; test 6 minutos r = 0,255; p = 0,019). El estudio multivariante confirmó estas asociaciones (R2 = 0,606, p < 0,001). CONCLUSIÓN: el estudio de la composición corporal por bioimpedancia permite hacer una estimación de la MMT que está relacionada con variables funcionales y de ejercicio en los pacientes con EPOC. La expresión de la MMTp es el parámetro con mayores relaciones con estas variables

OBJECTIVE: Recently, a method has been described to estimate total muscle mass (TMM), based on data obtained from a bioelectrical impedance of the body. The objective of this work was to calculate the various TMM parameters, based on the data provided by bioelectrical impedance, to then study the relationship between these parameters and other bio-impedance parameters, as well as their possible relationship with clinical and functional parameters. METHOD: the work is an observational, transversal study of patients with stable COPD. Patients included in this study underwent a clinical, functional and exercise assessment. Using bioelectrical impedance, TMM was calculated as were three associated parameters: percentage regarding total body weight (TMMp), percentage regarding lean mass and TMM index. RESULTS: the test group included 85 patients with COPD (79 men; 64 years of age (7); FEV1 61(9)%). Males had a significant higher TMM than women (14.7(2.7) Kg. vs. 24.5(3.7) Kg., p < 0.001). The TMMp values had a greater significant relationship with parameters for pulmonary capacity (TLC r = 0.461, p < 0.001) and exercise capacity (oxygen consumption r = 0.325 p = 0.024; test 6 minutes r = 0.255; p = 0.019). The multivariate study confirmed these associations (R2 = 0.606, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: the body composition study using bioelectrical impedance allows an estimation of TMM to be formulated, which is related to functional variables and exercise in patients with COPD. The expression of TMMp is the parameter with the greatest relationship with these variables

A DFT study of the carboxymethyl-phosphatidylethanolamine formation from glyoxal and phosphatidylethanolamine surface. Comparison with the formation of N(ε)-(carboxymethyl)lysine from glyoxal and L-lysine.

Mechanisms of the generation of carboxymethyl compounds Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and carboxymethyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (CM-PE) from the reactions between glyoxal and L-lysine, and glyoxal and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were studied using the DFT method at the PBE/DNP level of theory. In order to study the reaction with PE, a periodic model of the PE surface was built. The starting surface model includes two molecules of PE, a molecule of monohydrated form of glyoxal, and five water molecules as explicit solvent that form a hydrogen bond network, which are involved in the reactions by stabilizing reaction intermediates and transition states and as proton-transfer carriers, important in all steps of reactions. Both reactions take place in three steps, namely, (1) carbino-diol-amine formation; (2) dehydration; and (3) rearrangement into carboxymethyl final products. The rate-limiting step for the formation of CML/CM-PE was the dehydration stage. The comparison of both reactions in their equivalent stages showed a catalytic role of the PE surface; it is highlighted in the case of dehydration step where its relative free energy barrier had a value of 5.3 kcal mol(-1) lower than that obtained in the L-lysine-glyoxal system. This study gives insights into the active role of the phospholipid surface in some chemical reactions that occur above it. Our results also give support to consider the pathway of formation of CML and CM-PE from the reactions between glyoxal and L-lysine, and glyoxal and PE as an alternative pathway for generation of these advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).

1H nuclear spin relaxation of liquid water from molecular dynamics simulations.

We have investigated the nuclear spin relaxation properties of (1)H in liquid water with the help of molecular dynamics simulations. We have computed the (1)H nuclear spin relaxation times T1 and T2 and determined the contribution of the different interactions to the relaxation at different temperatures and for different classical water models (SPC/E, TIP3P, TIP4P, and TIP4P/2005). Among the water models considered, the TIP4P/2005 model exhibits the best agreement with the experiment. The same analysis was performed with Car-Parrinello ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of bulk water at T = 330 K, which provided results close to the experimental values at room temperature. To complete the study, we have successfully accounted for the temperature-dependence of T1 and T2 in terms of a simplified model, which considers the reorientation in finite angle jumps and the diffusive translation of water molecules.

Expresión diferencial de reactantes de fase aguda en distintos tipos celulares de pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Differential expression of acute phase reactants for various cell types in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

INTRODUCCIÓN: la presencia de valores aumentados de marcadores inflamatorios plasmáticos se ha asociado a la presencia de muchos de los procesos extrapulmonares relacionados con la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC). El tejido pulmonar es capaz de sintetizar reactantes de fase aguda (RFA), cuya secreción puede estar relacionada con variables clínicas de la enfermedad. En el presente estudio nos planteamos el análisis de diversos grupos celulares con objeto de evaluar qué células están implicadas en esta síntesis pulmonar de RFA. MÉTODO: estudio analítico observacional de caso-control, en el que se compararon los niveles de distintos RFA en células epiteliales, macrófagos y fibroblastos pulmonares humanos de muestras quirúrgicas de tejido pulmonar de pacientes fumadores o exfumadores con EPOC en fase estable frente a pacientes sin EPOC. RESULTADOS: la muestra estaba compuesta por 74 sujetos, divididos en 39 pacientes EPOC y 35 fumadores sin la enfermedad. Tanto fibroblastos, células epiteliales y macrófagos pulmonares son capaces de sintetizar estos reactantes de fase aguda. A pesar de que las diferencias entre casos y controles no son llamativas, en sujetos control parece que la producción de PCR estaría más elevada en células epiteliales, mientras que los diversos genes de amiloide A sérico (AAS) estarían elevados en las células epiteliales y macrófagos. CONCLUSIONES: los hallazgos del presente estudio señalan la capacidad de las células del aparato respiratorio en sintetizar reactantes de fase aguda en los pacientes con EPOC. Nuestros resultados nos permiten valorar esta producción y sugerir que es probable que no sean los únicos tipos celulares implicados

INTRODUCTION: the presence of increased values for plasma inflammatory markers has been associated with the presence of extra-pulmonary processes linked to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Lung tissue is able to synthesize Acute Phase Reactants (APR), and this secretion could be linked to clinical variables of the disease. In this study, we contemplate analyzing a number of cell groups to assess which cells are involved in this pulmonary synthesis of APR. METHOD: control case, analytical, observational study that compares the levels of various APR in human lung epithelial, macrophage and fibroblast cells of surgical lung tissue samples from patients with a stable phase of COPD who were either smokers or ex-smokers, and compare these with patients without COPD. RESULTS: the sample was composed of 74 subjects, divided into groups with 39 COPD patients, and 35 smokers without the disease. Both the lung fibroblast, epithelial and macrophage cells are able to synthesize these acute phase reactants. Although the differences between the cases and the control group are not significant, in the control subjects it seems that the production of PCR would be higher in the epithelial cells, while several serum Amyloid A genes would be overexpressed in the epithelial and macrophage cells. CONCLUSIONS: the findings of this study point out the ability of respiratory system cells to synthesize acute phase reactants in patients with COPD. Our results allow us to assess this production and suggest that these are not the only cells involved

Diffusion and spectroscopy of water and lipids in fully hydrated dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer membranes.

Microscopic structure and dynamics of water and lipids in a fully hydrated dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine phospholipid lipid bilayer membrane in the liquid-crystalline phase have been analyzed with all-atom molecular dynamics simulations based on the recently parameterized CHARMM36 force field. The diffusive dynamics of the membrane lipids and of its hydration water, their reorientational motions as well as their corresponding spectral densities, related to the absorption of radiation, have been considered for the first time using the present force field. In addition, structural properties such as density and pressure profiles, a deuterium-order parameter, surface tension, and the extent of water penetration in the membrane have been analyzed. Molecular self-diffusion, reorientational motions, and spectral densities of atomic species reveal a variety of time scales playing a role in membrane dynamics. The mechanisms of lipid motion strongly depend on the time scale considered, from fast ballistic translation at the scale of picoseconds (effective diffusion coefficients of the order of 10(-5) cm(2)/s) to diffusive flow of a few lipids forming nanodomains at the scale of hundreds of nanoseconds (diffusion coefficients of the order of 10(-8) cm(2)/s). In the intermediate regime of sub-diffusion, collisions with nearest neighbors prevent the lipids to achieve full diffusion. Lipid reorientations along selected directions agree well with reported nuclear magnetic resonance data and indicate two different time scales, one about 1 ns and a second one in the range of 2-8 ns. We associated the two time scales of reorientational motions with angular distributions of selected vectors. Calculated spectral densities corresponding to lipid and water reveal an overall good qualitative agreement with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy experiments. Our simulations indicate a blue-shift of the low frequency spectral bands of hydration water as a result of its interaction with lipids. We have thoroughly analyzed the physical meaning of all spectral features from lipid atomic sites and correlated them with experimental data. Our findings include a "wagging of the tails" frequency around 30 cm(-1), which essentially corresponds to motions of the tail-group along the instantaneous plane formed by the two lipid tails, i.e., in-plane oscillations are clearly of bigger importance than those along the normal-to-the plane direction.

Hipertransaminasemia como forma de inicio de un panhipopituitarismo adquirido / Hypertransaminasemia as the first manifestation of an acquired panhypopituitarism

Presentamos el caso de una niña diagnosticada de insuficiencia hipofisaria múltiple o panhipopituitarismo, cuyo cuadro clínico inicial (dolor abdominal con elevación de las transaminasas) no es muy habitual. En numerosas ocasiones, los tumores del área hipotálamo-hipofisaria se presentan sin ninguna sintomatología neurológica, y los síntomas clave para establecer su diagnóstico son un exceso o un déficit de hormonas hipofisarias. En este caso, lo que nos condujo al diagnóstico de una neoplasia hipotalámica-hipofisiaria fue el hallazgo de un eje tiroideo alterado en el contexto de un estudio realizado por hipertransaminasemia (AU)

We report a case of a 13 year old girl with multiple pituitary insufficiency or panhypopituitarism which clinical symptoms, abdominal pain and mild elevation of transaminase, are unusual. Frequently, hypothalamus-pituitary tumors have no neurological symptoms and clinical manifestations are related with de excess o deficit of pituitary hormones. A thyroid axis disorder found in the context of a mild elevation of transaminase, was the key for the diagnosis of an hypothalamus-pituitary tumor (AU)

Recién nacida con flictenas / Newborn with blisters

Presentamos el caso de una recién nacida con flictenas a las 48 horas de vida, que al cicatrizar presentan punteado blanquecino en forma de quistes de milium, por lo que se sospecha la posibilidad de una enfermedad ampollosa congénita. Finalmente, el Servicio de Dermatología confirma el diagnostico de epidermólisis ampollosa de Weber-Cockayne (AU)

The case o a newborn with blisters at 48 hours of life is reported. When healing, dotted whitish scar similar to milium cysts appear, so raising the possibility of a congenital bullous disease. Finally, the Dermatology Department confirms the diagnosis of Epidermolysis bullosa of Weber-Cockayne (AU)

Expresión de aquaporinas en tejido pulmonar de pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Aquaporin expression in the lung tissue of copd patients

INTRODUCCIÓN: Estudio de la expresión de aquaporinas (AQP1 y AQP5) en el tejido bronquial y parénquima pulmo-nar de pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva cróni-ca (EPOC) y fumadores sin la enfermedad. MÉTODO: Utilizando un diseño caso-control, se seleccionó un grupo de 15 pacientes con EPOC (93,3% varones, con una edad media de 68 años, una media de FEV1 del 72% y 26,7% con corticosteroides inhalados) y 15 fumadores sin la enfermedad, a los cuales se les sometió a cirugía de resección pulmonar por neoplasia pulmonar. Se estudió la expresión de AQP1 y AQP5 en el tejido bronquial y en parénquima pulmo-nar mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa en tiempo real.RESULTADOS: No encontramos diferencias en la expresión génica de estas AQPs en ambos territorios pulmonares entre los pacientes con EPOC y los fumadores sin la enfermedad. Sin embargo, en los pacientes EPOC, la expresión de AQP1 era 2,41 veces mayor en el parénquima comparado con los controles, mientras que la AQP5 mostraba un patrón inverso, con 7,75 veces mayor expresión en el tejido bronquial de los sujetos control.CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados del presente trabajo proporcio-nan evidencia inicial respecto a la expresión de AQP1 y AQP5 en pacientes con EPOC

INTRODUCTION: Study of aquaporin expression (AQP1 and AQP5) in the bronchial tissue and lung parenchyma of pa-tients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and smokers without the disease. METHOD: Using a case-control design, a group of 15 patients with COPD was selected (93.3% males, with an average age of 68 years, an average FEV1 of 72% and 26.7% with inha-led corticosteroids) and 15 smokers without the disease, who underwent lung resection surgery due to lung neoplasm. The expression of AQP1 and AQP5 in the bronchial tissue and in lung parenchyma was studied using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: No differences were found in the gene expression of these AQPs in either lung territories between the patients with COPD and the smokers without the disease. Nevertheless, in the COPD patients, the expression of AQP1 was 2.41 times greater in the parenchyma compared with the controls, while the AQP5 showed an inverse pattern, with 7.75 times greater expression in the bronchial tissue of the control subject. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide initial evidence regarding the expression of AQP1 and AQP5 in patient with COPD