Transition mechanism of the coverage-dependent polymorphism of self-assembled melamine nanostructures on Au(111).

Molecular self-assembled films have recently attracted increasing attention within the field of nanotechnology as they offer a route to obtain new materials. However, careful selection of the molecular precursors and substrates, as well as exhaustive control of the system evolution is required to obtain the best possible outcome. The three-fold rotational symmetry of melamine molecules and their capability to form hydrogen bonds make them suitable candidates to synthesize this type of self-assembled network. In this work, we have studied the polymorphism of melamine nanostructures on Au(111) at room temperature. We find two coverage-dependent phases: a honeycomb structure (α-phase) for submonolayer coverage and a close-packed structure (ß-phase) for full monolayer coverage. A combined scanning tunnel microscopy and density functional theory based-calculations study of the transition regime where both phases coexist allows describing the mechanism underlying this coverage driven phase transition in terms of the changes in the molecular lateral tension.

Preanalytical errors in emergency department samples: Investigating error sources.

BACKGROUND: The presence of preanalytical errors is a recurring fact in all areas of healthcare that send samples to laboratories. Increasing the knowledge of possible sources of error in the preanalytical phase has been the objective of this group during the last 10 years. METHODS: In this study, descriptive research has been carried out using professionals' opinions obtained by means of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats method in a focus group. RESULTS: The opinions expressed within the focus group have emphasised the importance of patients' safety and willingness for the introduction of a computerized analytical module. The most commented weakness in both hospitals was the transport of samples through the pneumatic tube. Improving the duration of workers' contracts, especially in the laboratory, and creating a circuit for professional's localization during the work shift to facilitate potential error solving are some opportunities for the future. CONCLUSIONS: Different approaches have been developed depending on the healthcare scenario. For this, establishing a flow of information between the different professionals allows identifying identical aspects through a priori, different points of view. The line to follow is to improve the safety of the patient and also to give professionals an opportunity to express themselves.

Multidisciplinary training activities for decreasing preanalytical mistakes in samples from primary care.

BACKGROUND: The presence of preanalytical mistakes (PM) in samples from primary care centres (PCC) is a widely studied topic. Different correcting strategies have been proposed, with variable success. We planned a series of multidisciplinary sessions for clinical update, with the aim to decrease PM rates in samples from PCC. METHODS: The incidence of PM in samples from PCC processed at the laboratories of University Hospital Virgen de la Victoria (LAB1) and University Hospital Juan Ramon Jimenez (LAB2) was assessed during two time periods (October to November 2013 and January to May 2014). Clinical update sessions were conducted between periods (2014). Differences in PM rates between observation periods were evaluated. RESULTS: With respect to 2014, we observed a significant reduction of PM rates in blood samples processed at LAB1 during 2015, whereas those in LAB2 were slightly increased. The most common PMs were haemolysed sample at LAB1 and missed sample at LAB2. CONCLUSIONS: Although the presence of PM remains slightly high, there was a significant reduction after the clinical update sessions in LAB1, where the most frequent PM was haemolysed sample. In contrast, the PM rates were slightly increased at LAB2, and the main source was missed sample. This might be explained, at least in part, by different problems associated with sample transportation, and by the delay in transferring acquired knowledge into clinical practice. Implementation of regular programme of update sessions and improvements in sample transportation might help to reduce the PM presence in our area.

Evaluación de un nuevo dispositivo para la recogida de la muestra, transporte y detección del estreptococo del grupo B en mujeres embarazadas / Evaluation of a new device for sample collection, transport and detection of Group B Streptococcus in pregnant women

Se ha diseñado un dispositivo de nueva invención que combina recogida, transporte, cultivo y detección del estreptococo del grupo B (EGB) sin necesidad de procesamiento ni manipulaciones intermedias, de manera que simplifique todo el proceso. El objetivo ha sido evaluar el rendimiento y utilidad de dicho dispositivo en la detección del EGB en mujeres embarazadas. Se comparó el nuevo prototipo en paralelo con la siembra directa de las muestras vagino-rectales en el medio sólido Granada en placas tradicionales. Mediante la siembra directa se detectaron 124 muestras positivas de 600 (20,6%). Mediante el nuevo dispositivo se detectaron las mismas que en siembra directa y además 10 adicionales 134/600 (22,3%). La utilización del nuevo dispositivo podría ser considerada en la práctica clínica asistencial de rutina para el cribado del EGB mediante previo acuerdo de comercialización (AU)

We have designed a new device that combines sample collection, transportation, culture and detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS), requiring no additional processing in the clinical laboratory. The objective was to evaluate the performance of this device for GBS detection in pregnant women. The new prototype was compared to direct plating of vaginal-rectal swabs onto Granada solid media plates. Direct plating method detected 124 positive samples out of 600 (20.6%) whereas the new device detected 10 additional positive samples (134/600, 22.3%). This new device (patent-protected) could be considered for routine GBS screening (AU)

Effect of the pH pre-adjustment in the freezing extender on post-thaw boar sperm quality.

BACKGROUND: During freezing the selective precipitation of substances in the medium may provoke a pH shift and lead to sperm damage. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the pH pre-adjustment in the freezing extender on post-thaw boar sperm quality. METHODS: A total of 15 ejaculates from different boars were obtained and divided into six aliquots prior to a standard straw cryopreservation in freezing extender (lactose-egg yolk-glycerol-Orvus ES Paste) with different pH. After thawing, sperm quality (plasma membrane integrity, motility and acrosome status) were assessed at 30 and 90 minutes of post-thaw incubation at 37 degree C. RESULTS: When the boar sperm were frozen in a freezing media with pH basic, and particularly at pH 8, it had higher post-thaw sperm quality. CONCLUSION: The pre-adjustment at pH 8 of the freezing extender (lactose-egg yolk-glycerol-Orvus ES Paste) is able to improve the post-thaw boar sperm quality.

Effect of the holding time at 15 °C prior to cryopreservation, the thawing rate and the post-thaw incubation temperature on the boar sperm quality after cryopreservation.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the holding time at 15 °C prior to cryopreservation (2, 4 and 8h), thawing rate (37 °C for 20s or 70 °C for 8s) and post-thaw incubation temperature (15 °C or 37 °C) on the post-thaw boar sperm quality. These are important time periods in the freezing-thawing process which have been less studied. Sperm-rich ejaculate fractions from three healthy boars were collected once a week for five consecutive weeks and were cryopreserved with the lactose-egg yolk extender (LEY). Sperm quality was determined by assessing the motility, the acrosome status, and the sperm plasma membrane integrity at 30, 150 and 240 min of incubation. The results show that with the holding time at 15 °C prior to cryopreservation there was not a clear effect until at least 24h of holding time. The thawing rate and the post-thaw incubation temperature, however, had a marked effect on sperm quality. When the samples were thawed at 70 °C for 8s, the sperm viability, motility and some kinetic variables (VCL, VSL, VAP and ALH) were greater than with results observed when the samples were thawed at 37 °C for 20s. In addition after thawing the sperm samples incubated at 15 °C had a sustained sperm quality for longer, up to 4h post-thawing.

Effect of different monosaccharides and disaccharides on boar sperm quality after cryopreservation.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cryoprotectant effect of different non-permeating sugars for boar sperm. Pooled semen from three boars was used for the experiments. In the first experiment, the sperm quality of boar sperm cryopreserved with an egg-yolk based extender supplemented with different monosaccharides (glucose, galactose or fructose) was compared to a control cryopreserved in lactose-egg yolk extender. In the second experiment, the effect of five disaccharides (lactose, sucrose, lactulose, trehalose or melibiose) on boar sperm cryosurvival was studied. Several sperm quality parameters were assessed by flow cytometry in samples incubated for 30 and 150 min at 37°C after thawing: percentages of sperm with intact plasma membrane (SIPM), sperm presenting high plasma membrane fluidity (HPMF), sperm with intracellular reactive oxygen substances production (IROSP) and apoptotic sperm (AS). In addition, the percentages of total motile (TMS) and progressively motile sperm (PMS) were assessed at the same incubation times with a computer-assisted sperm analysis system. Freezing extenders supplemented with each of the monosaccharide presented smaller cryoprotective effect than the control extender supplemented with lactose (P<0.05). However, from the three monosaccharides tested, glucose provided the best sperm quality after freezing-thawing. With respect to the disaccharides studied, samples frozen with the extender supplemented with lactulose exhibited in general the lowest sperm quality, except for the percentage of capacitated sperm, which was highest (P<0.05) in the samples cryopreserved with the trehalose extender. Our results suggest that disaccharides have higher cryoprotective effect than monosaccharides, although the monosaccharide composition of the disaccharides is also important, since the best results were obtained with those disaccharides presenting glucose in their composition.

Inclusion of seminal plasma in sperm cryopreservation of Iberian pig.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the inclusion of seminal plasma (SP) in the freezing extender, trying to preserve as much as possible of SP with spermatozoa from Iberian pigs, thus improving the conservation of animal genetic resources of this breed. Experiment 1, evaluated the effect of substituting water with SP as diluent in the freezing media in different proportions (0%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%), over pre-freezing (at 10°C and 5°C) and post-thawing sperm quality. The results showed that over 50% of SP in the extender, significantly decreased sperm quality in comparison to the control sample (0% SP) and the samples with 10% and 25% of SP (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the control sample and the samples with 10% and 25% SP (P>0.05), but treatment with 25% did not show significant differences between the time of incubation at 37°C after thawing (P>0.05), showing greater sperm quality resistance over time. Experiment 2, evaluated the effect of prolonged incubation period, until 480min (simulating the lifespan of sperm in the female genital tract), of sperm samples with 0%, 10% and 25% of SP. Treatment with 25% of SP maintained better sperm quality over time, compared to control sample. Significant differences were observed especially in the parameters of motility analysis (TMS, total motile spermatozoa; PMS: progressive motility spermatozoa. P<0.05). In Experiment 3, the effect of the presence of SP was evaluated during the thawing process. Although some differences were observed between treatments, these differences were not as clear as the previous experiments. In conclusion, replacement of 25% of the water by SP as diluent in the freezing extender could be considered the maximum percentage of inclusion, without harmful effects to the sperm. In addition, this proportion of SP maintained Iberian sperm quality for longer time when it was present during the freezing and thawing process.

Modelo de intervención coronaria percutánea primaria en la Comunidad de Galicia / The primary percutaneous coronary intervention program in Galicia

A pesar de haberse demostrado que la reperfusión precoz mediante intervención coronaria percutánea es la terapia más eficiente en pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio, menos del 20% de estos pacientes son tratados así. La generalización del uso de esta terapéutica está muy relacionada con el desarrollo de modelos asistenciales con centros referentes y centros de referencia como nodos de la red. Sobre esta base conceptual, se desarrolló un modelo asistencial en red en la Comunidad Autónoma de Galicia. El programa gallego de atención del infarto agudo de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST (PROGALIAM), para una población de unos 2.750.000 habitantes. En él se establecieron dos grandes objetivos: disminuir la mortalidad y la morbilidad mejorando la expectativa de calidad de vida del paciente con infarto y promover la equidad en el acceso a las prestaciones del sistema sanitario, para disminuir la variabilidad en el uso de recursos y tecnologías diagnósticas y terapéuticas en este contexto clínico. De forma que por carretera, según las isocronas de transporte del 061, el 92% de la población podía acceder a la realización de una intervención coronaria percutánea primaria en menos de 90 min y el 99%, en menos de 120 min. Desde el año 2006 que se implantó el protocolo hasta diciembre de 2009, se ha tratado en los tres hospitales, nodos de la red (Coruña, Santiago y Vigo) PROGALIAM, a un total de 4.917 pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio. La mediana del tiempo de transporte desde los hospitales sin unidades de hemodinámica a los centros con hemodinámica ha sido de 80 min. Cuando el 061 efectuó un traslado primario (domicilio-hospital con hemodinámica) directo, el tiempo dolor-sala de hemodinámica se acortó en un 39% en comparación con el traslado secundario (pacientes que acudieron a sus hospitales de zona y traslado por el 061 a hospitales con unidades de hemodinámica). La mortalidad media hospitalaria observada ha sido del 5% tras intervención coronaria percutánea primaria y del 12% tras intervención coronaria percutánea de rescate. En conclusión, el establecimiento de un programa de reperfusión coronaria con intervención coronaria percutánea en pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio en la Comunidad Autónoma de Galicia (PROGALIAM) ha homogeneizado el tratamiento y ha proporcionado la mejor terapéutica posible a estos pacientes, con alta eficiencia en la reducción de la mortalidad (AU)

Although theoretically early reperfusion using percutaneous coronary intervention is the most effective treatment for patients with acute myocardial infarction, less than 20% actually receive it. The region of Galicia in Spain has developed a treatment program and network: the Galician treatment program for STsegment elevation acute myocardial infarction (PROGALIAM), which covers a population of some 2750000 inhabitants. The program has two principal objectives: to reduce mortality and morbidity while improving the quality of life of myocardial infarction patients; and to promote equality of access to health-care services in order to reduce the variability in uptake of diagnostic and therapeutic resources and techniques in patients with the condition. From the establishment of the program in 2006 to December 2009, the three referral hospitals in the PROGALIAM network (in Coruña, Santiago and Vigo) have treated a total of 4917 patients with acute myocardial infarction. The median transport time from a hospital without a catheterization laboratory to a center with such a facility was 80 minutes. When an emergency 061 call resulted in immediate transport to a referral hospital (i.e. from home to catheterization laboratory), the time from symptom onset to catheterization was 39% less than the time following a subsequent referral (i.e. for patients who were admitted to their local hospital and then transferred by the emergency services to a hospital with a catheterization laboratory). Average in-hospital mortality ranged from 5% following primary percutaneous coronary intervention to 12% following rescue percutaneous coronary intervention. In conclusion, the establishment of a program of coronary reperfusion by percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction in the Galicia region (PROGALIAM) both ensured and equalized access to the best possible treatment for these patients, and was highly effective in reducing mortality (AU)

Producción científica de la Revista de la Sociedad Española de Enfermería Nefrológica durante los años 2005-2008 / Scientifi c production of the Journal of the Spanish Association of Renal Nursing between the years 2005-2008

Objetivo: Evaluar la actividad científi ca y la producción de la información de la Revista de la Sociedad Española de Enfermería Nefrológica (SEDEN), en el periodo 2005 a 2008, mediante el análisis bibliométrico. Método: Estudio descriptivo transversal, de los resultados obtenidos del análisis de los artículos publicados en la Revista de la SEDEN. Los datos se obtuvieron mediante la consulta, a través de la Red, de la versión electrónica. Se tuvo en cuenta todas las tipologías documentales a excepción de las editoriales. Resultados: Se publicaron un total de 131 artículos, siendo originales 75 (57,25%). El área temática mayoritaria es la hemodiálisis. El número de autores es 4,44 por artículo. El perfi l de autoría es una enfermera del ámbito asistencial de la Comunidad autónoma catalana o andaluza que utiliza 7,53 citas bibliográfi cas, con más de 7 años de antigüedad, por artículo original y utiliza metodología cuantitativa. Conclusiones: Hay un incremento del 25% en el número de publicaciones con respecto al período 2001-2004 (AU)

Objective: To assess the scientifi c activity and information production of the journal of the Spanish Association of Renal Nursing (SEDEN) for the period 2005-2008, by means of the bibliometric study. Methods: Cross-seccional descriptive study of the results obtained from the analysis of the articles published in the journal of SEDEN. The data were obtained by consulting the electronic version through the web. All the documental possibilities were taken into account with the exception of editorials. Results: A total of 131 articles were published, 75 (57,25%) being original articles. Most of the articles are from hemodialysis area. The number of authors is 4.44 per article. The profi le of authorship is an asistencial female nurse in the Catalan or Andalusian Comunity using 7,53 citations, with over 7 years old from the year of publication, for original article and quantitative methodology used. Conclusions: There is a 25% increase in the number of publications for the period 2001-2004 (AU)