Arsenate Removal from Aqueous Media Using Chitosan-Magnetite Hydrogel by Batch and Fixed-Bed Columns.

The removal of arsenate ions from aqueous solutions at near-neutral pH was carried out using chitosan-magnetite (ChM) hydrogel beads in batch systems. Equilibrium isotherms and kinetic studies are reported. Obtained equilibrium and kinetic data were fitted to mathematical models, estimating model parameters by non-linear regression analysis. Langmuir model was found to best fit equilibrium data; a maximum adsorption capacity of 66.9 mg As/g was estimated at pH 7.0. Pseudo-first order kinetic model was observed to best fit kinetic data. The pH of the solution was observed to increase with increasing contact time, which is attributed to protonation of amine groups present in the hydrogel. Protonation of functional groups in the ChM sorbent yields a higher number of active sites for arsenate removal, being as this a process that can't be overlooked in future applications of ChM hydrogel for the removal or arsenate ions. Chitosan-magnetite and ChM-arsenate interactions were determined by XPS. Arsenate removal using fixed-bed column packed with ChM was carried out, reporting a non-ideal behavior attributed to pH increase of the effluent caused by proton transfer to ChM hydrogels.

Protocolo para el manejo de la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en el Servicio de Urgencias / Protocol for the management of community-acquired pneumonia in the Emergency Department

Introducción: la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad es una causa común de infecciones respiratorias en la práctica médica. Objetivo: evaluar los resultados de la aplicación de un protocolo de actuación clínica basado en la escala CORB-65 para la atención al paciente con neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en el Hospital General Provincial Docente de Ciego de Ávila. Método: se realizó un estudio observacional analítico prospectivo en el período septiembre de 2013 a agosto de 2014. El universo estuvo constituido por 120 pacientes que acudieron al servicio de urgencias y cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Resultados: el promedio de edad fue 72,5 años, predominó el sexo femenino (56 por ciento), el color de piel blanco (70 por ciento), la procedencia urbana (69,20 por ciento) y enfermedades asociadas (60 por ciento). La casi totalidad (83,33 por ciento) obtuvieron puntuación entre cero y dos puntos. La mayoría (97,50 por ciento) no tenía criterios de ingreso según la escala. A medida que los valores fueron altos al ingreso, así se comportó la mortalidad con significación estadística demostrada. Se demostró un bajo grado de adherencia al protocolo, una correlación significativa entre la adherencia al protocolo y el promedio de estadía, así como el costo por el empleo de antibióticos. Conclusiones: predominó el sexo femenino, el color blanco de la piel y más de la mitad portaban enfermedades. La mayoría de los casos no tenían criterios para ingreso según la escala CORB-65. La escala fue útil para evaluar la gravedad de estos enfermos, así como su pronóstico al inicio de la atención(AU)

Introduction: community-acquired pneumonia is a common cause of respiratory infections in medical practice. Objective: to evaluate the results of the application of a protocol of clinical action based on the CORB-65 scale for the care of patients with pneumonia acquired in the community in the General Provincial Teaching Hospital of Ciego de Ávila. Method: a prospective analytical observational study was carried out in the period from September 2013 to August 2014. The universe consisted of 120 patients who went to the emergency service and met the inclusion criteria. Results: the average age was 72,5 years, female sex predominated (56 percent), white skin color (70 percent), urban origin (69,20 percent) and associated diseases (60 percent). The almost totality (83,33 percent) obtained score between zero and two points. The majority (97,50 percent) did not have income criteria according to the scale. As the values were high at admission, mortality behaved with demonstrated statistical significance. A low degree of adherence to the protocol was demonstrated, a significant correlation between adherence to the protocol and the average stay, as well as the cost for the use of antibiotics. Conclusions: the female sex predominated, the white color of the skin and more than half carried diseases. Most of the cases did not have criteria for admission according to the CORB-65 scale. The scale was useful to assess the severity of these patients, as well as their prognosis at the start of care(AU)

Adrenaline Stimulates Glucagon Secretion by Tpc2-Dependent Ca2+ Mobilization From Acidic Stores in Pancreatic α-Cells.

Adrenaline is a powerful stimulus of glucagon secretion. It acts by activation of ß-adrenergic receptors, but the downstream mechanisms have only been partially elucidated. Here, we have examined the effects of adrenaline in mouse and human α-cells by a combination of electrophysiology, imaging of Ca2+ and PKA activity, and hormone release measurements. We found that stimulation of glucagon secretion correlated with a PKA- and EPAC2-dependent (inhibited by PKI and ESI-05, respectively) elevation of [Ca2+]i in α-cells, which occurred without stimulation of electrical activity and persisted in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ but was sensitive to ryanodine, bafilomycin, and thapsigargin. Adrenaline also increased [Ca2+]i in α-cells in human islets. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of the Tpc2 channel (that mediates Ca2+ release from acidic intracellular stores) abolished the stimulatory effect of adrenaline on glucagon secretion and reduced the elevation of [Ca2+]i Furthermore, in Tpc2-deficient islets, ryanodine exerted no additive inhibitory effect. These data suggest that ß-adrenergic stimulation of glucagon secretion is controlled by a hierarchy of [Ca2+]i signaling in the α-cell that is initiated by cAMP-induced Tpc2-dependent Ca2+ release from the acidic stores and further amplified by Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release from the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum.

Repercusión clínica de la traslocación t(7; 15) (p22; q26) en varios miembros de una misma familia / Clinical impact of translocation t(7; 15) (p22; q26) on several family members

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A membranotropic region in the C-terminal domain of hepatitis C virus protein NS4B interaction with membranes.

We have identified a membrane-active region in the HCV NS4B protein by studying membrane rupture induced by a NS4B-derived peptide library on model membranes. This segment corresponds to one of two previously predicted amphipathic helix and define it as a new membrane association domain. We report the binding and interaction with model membranes of a peptide patterned after this segment, peptide NS4B(H2), and show that NS4B(H2) strongly partitions into phospholipid membranes, interacts with them, and is located in a shallow position in the membrane. Furthermore, changes in the primary sequence cause the disruption of the hydrophobicity along the structure and prevent the resulting peptide from interacting with the membrane. Our results suggest that the region where the NS4B(H2) is located might have an essential role in the membrane replication and/or assembly of the viral particle through the modulation of the replication complex. Our findings therefore identify an important region in the HCV NS4B protein which might be implicated in the HCV life cycle and possibly in the formation of the membranous web.