Estudio anSAFACHILDREN-1 / anSAFACHILDREN-1 study

Fundamentos: En este trabajo se exponen los resultados obtenidos del estudio anSAFACHILDREN-1 realizado durante el curso 20022003 en un centro docente de la localidad de Andújar, Jaén. En dicho centro, Escuelas Profesionales de la Sagrada Familia, se impartió el curso de Técnico en Dietética y Nutrición, de Formación Profesional Ocupacional que organizó la Consejería de Empleo y Desarrollo Tecnológico de la Junta de Andalucía. Con el objetivo de familiarizar a los alumnos del curso con técnicas epidemiológicas, y evaluar los hábitos de alimentación en el desayuno. Métodos: El estudio anSAFACHILDREN-1 es un estudio poblacional diseñado con el objeto de evaluar los hábitos de alimentación en el desayuno y estado nutricional en la población estudiante (3-11 años) del centro antes citado. Tras realizar el trabajo de campo y el procesamiento de los datos, se realizó la comparación de los datos obtenidos. Resultados y conclusión: Los resultados confirmaron que cada vez más niños y adolescentes no desayunan o lo hacen de forma inadecuada. Se obtuvo que el 75 por ciento de los escolares encuestados desayunaban, pero que de estos tan sólo el 27 por ciento incluían lácteos en su primera comida. Además, se observó que numerosos escolares consumían dulces-bollería para comenzar el día en detrimento del consumo de otros alimentos. En el estudio también se determinó las medidas antropométricas más usuales de los sujetos del estudio, observando las diferencias entre ambos sexos por rangos de edad y comparándolas con los percentiles de referencia (AU)

The application of dental methods of identification to human burn victims in a mass disaster.

This paper deals with the usefulness of dental identification in the case of 28 human burn victims of a bus accident in Spain. Postmortem forensic procedures for identification were used including general external examination, routine photographs and radiographs and complementary biological methods. Dental identification was also used and a description of the method is presented. Dental identification was established in 57% of the cases. When victims were less than 20 years of age, the success rate of identification by dental methods was higher (76% of victims in this age group). The assessment of dental age allowed the establishment of identity of four victims. We recommend that dental procedures be used in human identification after mass disasters. Odontological and radiographic procedures are powerful methods when dealing with burn victims.

The V3 loop based multi-epitope polypeptide TAB9 adjuvated with montanide ISA720 is highly immunogenic in nonhuman primates and induces neutralizing antibodies against five HIV-1 isolates.

In a previous work we selected montanide ISA720 (M-ISA720) among different adjuvants for the vaccination with a V3 loop based multi-epitope polypeptide TAB9. In this paper we present the evaluation of the toxicity and immunogenicity of this formulation in non-human primates. TAB9 in M-ISA720 was highly immunogenic in macaques (Macaca fascicularis) inducing antibodies against TAB9 in all animals after one inoculation and a strong anamnestic response after booster injections. Furthermore 97% of the V3 peptides included were recognized by TAB9 sera. No differences between doses of 200 microg and 1 mg of TAB9 in M-ISA720 were observed after four immunizations. Neutralizing antibodies against five HIV-1 isolates were detected in most animals. Animals remain healthy throughout the study and did not show lesions at the inoculation site.

Methods for identification of 28 burn victims following a 1996 bus accident in Spain.

A car collided head-on with a bus containing 56 passengers plus the driver. A few seconds after the crash, the bus caught fire and 28 persons (15 male and 13 female) lost their lives. All the deceased were almost completely incinerated. To establish the identity of the victims, the judge in charge of the case designated a multidisciplinary Identification Commission. Postmortem procedures included a general external examination, routine photographs, dental examination, dental (intraoral and extraoral) and general radiographs (chest, ankle, etc.), and complementary biological methods for identification (e.g., DNA analysis). The antemortem information, including dental and medical records available, were transcribed onto the INTERPOL disaster victim identification forms. The detailed ante- and postmortem information were compared manually. In this disaster dental identity could be established in 57% of the victims, whereas dental evidence did not allow by itself the identification of 12 burned victims. Odontological examination and complementary radiographic procedures were found to be accurate, economic and rapid methods of identifying badly burned victims in this bus accident.

Adsorption-desorption of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (r-HBsAg) from P. pastoris on a diatomaceous earth matrix: Optimization of parameters for purification.

Recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (r-HBsAg) produced in yeast is adsorbed on a diatomaceous earth matrix for purification purposes. A pH dependence in the adsorption-elution behavior was found. The capacity of celite (Hyflo Super Cei) for adsorbing r-HBsAg increased with decreasing pH. Nonspecific proteins were also adsorbed, but a low pH dependence was found. Elution from the matrix was performed using a basic pH buffer, in which r-HBsAg is more specifically adsorbed/desorbed than contaminant proteins, permitting the purification of the r-HBsAg. A pH of 4.0 was used for adsorption and pH 8.2 was used for desorption. The described protocol allows a purification factor between three- and fivefold with respect to contaminant proteins and sixfold with respect to contaminant DNA. Finally, the adsorption step was successfully scaled-up for production purposes.