Stationary flow driven by non-sinusoidal time-periodic pressure gradients in wavy-walled channels.

The classical problem of secondary flow driven by a sinusoidally varying pressure gradient is extended here to address periodic pressure gradients of complex waveform, which are present in many oscillatory physiological flows. A slender two-dimensional wavy-walled channel is selected as a canonical model problem. Following standard steady-streaming analyses, valid for small values of the ratio ε of the stroke length of the pulsatile motion to the channel wavelength, the spatially periodic flow is described in terms of power-law expansions of ε, with the Womersley number assumed to be of order unity. The solution found at leading order involves a time-periodic velocity with a zero time-averaged value at any given point. As in the case of a sinusoidal pressure gradient, effects of inertia enter at the following order to induce a steady flow in the form of recirculating vortices with zero net flow rate. An improved two-term asymptotic description of this secondary flow is sought by carrying the analysis to the following order. It is found that, when the pressure gradient has a waveform with multiple harmonics, the resulting velocity corrections display a nonzero flow rate, not present in the single-frequency case, which enables stationary convective transport along the channel. Direct numerical simulations for values of ε of order unity are used to investigate effects of inertia and delineate the range of validity of the asymptotic limit ε≪1. The comparisons of the time-averaged velocity obtained numerically with the two-term asymptotic description reveals that the latter remains remarkably accurate for values of ε exceeding 0.5. As an illustrative example, the results of the model problem are used to investigate the cerebrospinal-fluid flow driven along the spinal canal by the cardiac and respiratory cycles, characterized by markedly non-sinusoidal waveforms.

Targeted transcriptomic analysis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in EUS-FNA samples by NanoString technology.

Background: Integration of transcriptomic testing into EUS-FNA samples is a growing need for precision oncology in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The NanoString platform is suitable for transcriptome profiling in low yield RNA samples. Methods: Inclusion of patients that underwent EUS-FNA cytological diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using 19G and/or 22G needles and subsequent surgical resection. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cytological and surgical samples underwent RNA extraction and transcriptomic analysis using a custom 52-gene NanoString panel of stromal PDAC features. Cell type abundance was quantified in FFPE specimens and correlated. Results: 18 PDAC patients were included. Mean EUS-FNA passes was 2 + 0.7. All FFPE passed the RNA quality control for genomic analysis. Hierarchical clustering on the global gene expression data showed that genes were differentially expressed between EUS and surgical samples. A more enriched cancer-associated fibroblasts and epithelial-mesenchymal transition transcriptomic profile was observed across surgical specimens whereas immunological biomarkers were more represented in EUS-FNA samples. Cytological examination confirmed a scanty representation of CAF and more immunological cell abundance in cytological samples in comparison to surgical specimens. Conclusion: Targeted transcriptomic NanoString profiling of PDAC samples obtained by EUS-FNA is a feasible approach for pre-surgical molecular analysis although stromal CAF/EMT mRNA biomarkers are underrepresented.

A one-dimensional model for the pulsating flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the spinal canal.

The monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) fluctuations, which is needed in the context of a number of neurological diseases, requires the insertion of pressure sensors, an invasive procedure with considerable risk factors. Intracranial pressure fluctuations drive the wave-like pulsatile motion of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) along the compliant spinal canal. Systematically derived simplified models relating the ICP fluctuations with the resulting CSF flow rate can be useful in enabling indirect evaluations of the former from non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of the latter. As a preliminary step in enabling these predictive efforts, a model is developed here for the pulsating viscous motion of CSF in the spinal canal, assumed to be a linearly elastic compliant tube of slowly varying section, with a Darcy pressure-loss term included to model the fluid resistance introduced by the trabeculae, which are thin collagen-reinforced columns that form a web-like structure stretching across the spinal canal. Use of Fourier-series expansions enables predictions of CSF flow rate for realistic anharmonic ICP fluctuations. The flow rate predicted using a representative ICP waveform together with a realistic canal anatomy is seen to compare favourably with in vivo phase-contrast MRI measurements at multiple sections along the spinal canal. The results indicate that the proposed model, involving a limited number of parameters, can serve as a basis for future quantitative analyses targeting predictions of ICP temporal fluctuations based on MRI measurements of spinal-canal anatomy and CSF flow rate.

Effect of Normal Breathing on the Movement of CSF in the Spinal Subarachnoid Space.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Forced respirations reportedly have an effect on CSF movement in the spinal canal. We studied respiratory-related CSF motion during normal respiration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six healthy subjects breathed at their normal rate with a visual guide to ensure an unchanging rhythm. Respiratory-gated phase-contrast MR flow images were acquired at 5 selected axial planes along the spine. At each spinal level, we computed the flow rate voxelwise in the spinal canal, together with the associated stroke volume. From these data, we computed the periodic volume changes of spinal segments. A phantom was used to quantify the effect of respiration-related magnetic susceptibility changes on the velocity data measured. RESULTS: At each level, CSF moved cephalad during inhalation and caudad during expiration. While the general pattern of fluid movement was the same in the 6 subjects, the flow rates, stroke volumes, and spine segment volume changes varied among subjects. Peak flow rates ranged from 0.60 to 1.59 mL/s in the cervical region, 0.46 to 3.17 mL/s in the thoracic region, and 0.75 to 3.64 mL/s in the lumbar region. The differences in flow rates along the canal yielded cyclic volume variations of spine segments that were largest in the lumbar spine, ranging from 0.76 to 3.07 mL among subjects. In the phantom study, flow velocities oscillated periodically during the respiratory cycle by up to 0.02 cm/s or 0.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory-gated measurements of the CSF motion in the spinal canal showed cyclic oscillatory movements of spinal fluid correlated to the breathing pattern.

Buoyancy-modulated Lagrangian drift in wavy-walled vertical channels as a model problem to understand drug dispersion in the spinal canal.

This paper investigates flow and transport in a slender wavy-walled vertical channel subject to a prescribed oscillatory pressure difference between its ends. When the ratio of the stroke length of the pulsatile flow to the channel wavelength is small, the resulting flow velocity is known to include a slow steady-streaming component resulting from the effect of the convective acceleration. Our study considers the additional effect of gravitational forces in configurations with a non-uniform density distribution. Specific attention is given to the slowly evolving buoyancy-modulated flow emerging after the deposition of a finite amount of solute whose density is different from that of the fluid contained in the channel, a relevant problem in connection with drug dispersion in intrathecal drug delivery (ITDD) processes, involving the injection of the drug into the cerebrospinal fluid that fills the spinal canal. It is shown that when the Richardson number is of order unity, the relevant limit in ITDD applications, the resulting buoyancy-induced velocities are comparable to those of steady streaming. As a consequence, the slow time-averaged Lagrangian motion of the fluid, involving the sum of the Stokes drift and the time-averaged Eulerian velocity, is intimately coupled with the transport of the solute, resulting in a slowly evolving problem that can be treated with two-time-scale methods. The asymptotic development leads to a time-averaged, nonlinear integro-differential transport equation that describes the slow dispersion of the solute, thereby circumventing the need to describe the small concentration fluctuations associated with the fast oscillatory motion. The ideas presented here can find application in developing reduced models for future quantitative analyses of drug dispersion in the spinal canal.

B cells from Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Show Conserved CD39-Mediated Regulatory Function and increased CD39 Expression After Positive Response to Therapy.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by progressive joint destruction associated with increased pro-inflammatory mediators. In inflammatory microenvironments, exogenous ATP (eATP) is hydrolyzed to adenosine, which exerts immunosuppressive effects, by the consecutive action of the ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73. Mature B cells constitutively express both ectonucleotidases, converting these cells to potential suppressors. Here, we assessed CD39 and CD73 expression on B cells from treated or untreated patients with RA. Neither the frequency of CD73+CD39+ and CD73-CD39+ B cell subsets nor the levels of CD73 and CD39 expression on B cells from untreated or treated RA patients showed significant changes in comparison to healthy controls (HC). CpG+IL-2-stimulated B cells from HC or untreated RA patients increased their CD39 expression, and suppressed CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation and intracellular TNF-production. A CD39 inhibitor significantly restored proliferation and TNF-producing capacity in CD4+ T cells, but not in CD8+ T cells, from HC and untreated RA patients, indicating that B cells from untreated RA patients conserved CD39-mediated regulatory function. Good responder patients to therapy (R-RA) exhibited an increased CD39 but not CD73 expression on B cells after treatment, while most of the non-responder (NR) patients showed a reduction in ectoenzyme expression. The positive changes of CD39 expression on B cells exhibited a negative correlation with disease activity and rheumatoid factor levels. Our results suggest modulating the ectoenzymes/ADO pathway as a potential therapy target for improving the course of RA.

Medición ecográfica del grosor del cartílago femoral en rodilla de jóvenes universitarios sanos / Ultrasound measurement of femoral cartilage thickness in the knee of healthy young university students

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVO: El cartílago articular (CA) siempre está afectado en cualquier articulación con artrosis (A). La ecografía puede ser una herramienta útil en la monitorización de los cambios en el CA. El propósito del presente estudio es medir ecográficamente el grosor del CA en el fémur distal en jóvenes estudiantes y determinar su relación con el índice de masa corporal (IMC), masa muscular, grasa corporal y la práctica deportiva. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal observacional con voluntarios sanos, entre 15 y 25 años. Se recogieron datos antropométricos y se midió el grosor del cartílago femoral de la rodilla en cinco puntos. Además, se midió en un subgrupo el porcentaje de músculo y de grasa corporal. RESULTADOS: En el estudio se incluyeron 100 sujetos. La edad promedio fue de 20 años (± 2,5). El IMC promedio fue 23 kg/m2 (± 3,1). El CA tuvo un mayor grosor en los hombres y en los deportistas vs. las mujeres y los sedentarios, con diferencia estadísticamente significativa. Al comparar el IMC con el grosor del CA no se encontró ninguna relación significativa; sin embargo, sólo dos participantes tenían IMC > 30. CONCLUSIONES: El grosor del cartílago tiene una relación directamente proporcional con el porcentaje de músculo, e inversamente proporcional con el porcentaje de grasa. El IMC no es un buen parámetro al evaluar el comportamiento dinámico del cartílago en jóvenes no obesos

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Articular cartilage (AC) is always affected in any joint with osteoarthritis. Ultrasound can be a useful tool in monitoring changes in the AC. The purpose of the present study is to ultrasound measure the thickness of the AC in the distal femur in young students and determine its relationship with body mass index (BMI), muscle mass, body fat and sports practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted with healthy volunteers, between 15 and 25 years old. Anthropometric data were collected and the thickness of the femoral cartilage of the knee was measured at 5 points. In addition, the percentage of muscle and body fat was measured in a subgroup. RESULTS: 100 subjects were included in the study. The average age was 20 years (± 2.5). The average BMI was 23 kg/m2 (± 3.1). AC was thicker in men and sportsmen, versus women and sedentary people, with a statistically significant difference. When comparing BMI with AC thickness no significant relationship was found; however, only 2 participants had BMI > 30. CONCLUSIONS: Cartilage thickness has a direct relationship with the percentage of muscle, and inversely with the percentage of fat. BMI is not a good parameter when evaluating the dynamic behaviour of cartilage in non-obese youths

Ultrasound measurement of femoral cartilage thickness in the knee of healthy young university students. / Medición ecográfica del grosor del cartílago femoral en rodilla de jóvenes universitarios sanos.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Articular cartilage (AC) is always affected in any joint with osteoarthritis. Ultrasound can be a useful tool in monitoring changes in the AC. The purpose of the present study is to ultrasound measure the thickness of the AC in the distal femur in young students and determine its relationship with body mass index (BMI), muscle mass, body fat and sports practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted with healthy volunteers, between 15 and 25 years old. Anthropometric data were collected and the thickness of the femoral cartilage of the knee was measured at 5 points. In addition, the percentage of muscle and body fat was measured in a subgroup. RESULTS: 100 subjects were included in the study. The average age was 20 years (± 2.5). The average BMI was 23 kg/m2 (± 3.1). AC was thicker in men and sportsmen, versus women and sedentary people, with a statistically significant difference. When comparing BMI with AC thickness no significant relationship was found; however, only 2 participants had BMI > 30. CONCLUSIONS: Cartilage thickness has a direct relationship with the percentage of muscle, and inversely with the percentage of fat. BMI is not a good parameter when evaluating the dynamic behaviour of cartilage in non-obese youths.

Impacto de la calcificación vascular en la mortalidad y salud ósea en pacientes con trasplante renal / Impact of vascular calcification on bone health andmortality in kidney transplant patients

OBJETIVOS: Evaluar la prevalencia de calcificación vascular y fracturas vertebrales en una cohorte de pacientes sometidos a trasplante renal, y su asociación con mortalidad por todas las causas y disfunción del injerto, así como la relación con parámetros bioquímicos del metabolismo óseo y mineral. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo, observacional, unicéntrico, en el que se incluyeron 405 pacientes sometidos a trasplante renal, con recogida de parámetros clínicos, bioquímicos, epidemiológicos y de calcificación vascular radiológica y fracturas vertebrales mediante radiografía simple en el momento del trasplante, con un seguimiento mínimo de dos años, evaluando mortalidad cardiovascular y por todas las causas y descenso del filtrado glomerular. Se dispuso además de 39 estudios de densitometría ósea realizados en los meses previos al trasplante. RESULTADOS: La supervivencia de los pacientes fue significativamente menor en el grupo de pacientes con calcificación vascular (131 ± 1,5 meses sin calcificación frente a 110 ± 3,5 meses con calcificación vascular, p < 0,001). Se observó un mayor descenso del filtrado glomerular estimado (FGE) mediante la fórmula CKD-EPI en todos los pacientes que presentaban calcificación vascular, siendo esta un factor de riesgo independiente (OR = 2,7; IC 95%: 1,6-4,4; p < 0,001). La prevalencia de fracturas vertebrales fue significativamente mayor en el grupo de calcificación vascular (12%), independientemente de otros factores de riesgo (OR = 9,2; IC 95%: 1,2-73,4; p = 0,036). Se ha asociado la prevalencia de fracturas vertebrales con menor masa ósea en cadera evaluada mediante densitometría ósea (T-score -1,2 vs. -2,4, p = 0,02) CONCLUSIONES: La calcificación vascular previa al trasplante, evaluada mediante un método sencillo, barato y accesible como la radiografía simple, condiciona la morbimortalidad del paciente sometido a trasplante renal y tiene un gran impacto sobre la evolución de la función del injerto, independientemente de otros factores de riesgo tradicionales. La asociación entre la fragilidad ósea, la calcificación vascular y el pronóstico del paciente y del injerto renal nos debe hacer pensar en añadir la densitometría ósea en el protocolo de inclusión en lista de espera de trasplante. Es relevante promover no sólo la mejor salud vascular posible sino también promover el menor impacto en el tejido óseo en la progresión de la enfermedad renal crónica antes del momento del trasplante

OBJETIVE: To assess the prevalence of vascular calcification and vertebral fractures in a cohort of patients undergoing kidney transplantation and its association with all graft-related causes of mortality and dysfunction, as well as the relationship with biochemical parameters of bone and mineral metabolism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective, observational, single-center study, which included 405 patients undergoing kidney transplants, with collection of clinical, biochemical, epidemiological parameters, and of radiological vascular calcification and vertebral fractures by simple radiography at the time of transplantation, with a minimum follow-up of two years. We assessed cardiovascular mortality and all causes and decreased glomerular filtration. In addition, 39 bone densitometry studies carried out in the months prior to transplantation were reported. RESULTS: Patient survival was significantly lower in the group of patients with vascular calcification (131 ± 1.5 months without calcification compared to 110 ± 3.5 months with vascular calcification, p < 0.001). A greater decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was observed using the CKD-EPI formula in all patients who presented vascular calcification, this being an independent risk factor (OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.6-4, 4; p < 0.001). The prevalence of vertebral fractures was significantly higher in the vascular calcification group (12%), independently of other risk factors (OR = 9.2; 95% CI: 1.2-73.4; p = 0.036). The prevalence of vertebral fractures has been associated with lower hip bone mass assessed by bone densitometry (T-score -1.2 vs. -2.4, p = 0.02) CONCLUSIONS: Vascular calcification prior to transplantation, evaluated using a simple, cheap and accessible method such as plain radiography, determines the morbidity and mortality of the patient undergoing a kidney transplant and has a great impact on the evolution of graft function, regardless of other risk factors. traditional. The association between bone fragility, vascular calcification and the prognosis of the patient and the renal graft should make us think about adding bone densitometry to the protocol for inclusion in the transplant waiting list. It is relevant to promote not only the best possible vascular health but also to promote the least impact on bone tissue in the progression of chronic kidney disease before the time of transplantation

Heavy metal transport and evolution of atmospheric aerosols in the Antarctic region.

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) measurements and backward air mass trajectory analysis using the HYSPLIT model were performed to better understand the main sources and transport pathways of heavy metals in atmospheric aerosols reaching the Antarctic region. Field campaigns were carried out during the austral summer 2016-2017 at the "Gabriel de Castilla" Spanish Antarctic Research Station, located on Deception Island. Aerosols were deposited in an air filter through a low-volume sampler and chemically analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The study of air masses and high enrichment factor values of several elements (Hf, Zr, As, Cu, Sn, Zn, Pb) together with their correlations (Hf/Zr, V/As, Ti/Mn and Cu/Sn) suggests a potentially significant role of three main sources in this area: remote maritime traffic, local petrol combustion (generators and/or tourist cruises), and remote/local crust. Additionally, the investigation of atmospheric flow patterns through backward trajectory analysis revealed that Hf/Zr correlation was related to a remote crustal origin, V/As to anthropogenic local pollution, Ti/Mn to terrestrial inputs on the island and Cu/Sn to remote anthropogenic sources. Overall, the present study demonstrates the existence of anthropogenic pollution at this remote site from distant as well as local sources following the Antarctic circumpolar wind pattern.

Contribución de la prueba rápida NS1 e IgM al diagnóstico de dengue en Colombia en el periodo pre-zika / Contribution of NS1 and IgM based-rapid tests to dengue diagnosis in Colombia before zika emergence

Objetivo: Se considera que el diagnóstico del dengue es fundamentalmente clínico; sin embargo, las pruebas rápidas basadas en la detección de IgM o NS1/IgM están siendo utilizadas en los servicios de salud. Este estudio determinó la contribución de las pruebas rápidas al diagnóstico de dengue en un área endémica antes de la introducción del virus zika. Metodología: Diseño de corte transversal de pruebas diagnósticas realizado a partir del análisis secundario de un estudio previo en 14 instituciones de salud del Valle del Cauca. Se obtuvo información de 632 participantes con resultados de prueba rápida, diagnóstico clínico y pruebas de referencia ELISA NS1, ELISA IgM y RT-PCR. Se compararon la sensibilidad, especificidad, valores predictivos y razones de verosimilitud del uso solo, en serie, y paralelo de los componentes NS1, IgM, NS1/IgM de la prueba rápida y el diagnóstico clínico con las pruebas Q de Cochran y McNemar para datos pareados. Resultados: La sensibilidad del diagnóstico clínico (61,4% IC95% 56%-66,7%) fue superior a la de las pruebas rápidas (37% IC95% 29,6%-44,7%) (P Conclusión: El diagnóstico clínico tiene una mayor sensibilidad que las pruebas rápidas, pero por si solo no es suficiente para confirmar o descartar dengue. Un resultado positivo en pruebas rápidas en pacientes con diagnóstico clínico de dengue es útil para confirmarlo, pero un resultado negativo no lo descarta.

Objective: Dengue diagnosis is considered to be mainly clinical; however, rapid tests that detect IgM or NS1/IgM are being used in health services. This study assessed the contribution of rapid tests to dengue diagnosis in an endemic area before the emergence of zika virus in Colombia. Methods: Cross-sectional study of diagnostic tests based on a secondary analysis of a previous study in 14 health care institutions in Valle del Cauca department. Results of dengue rapid test, clinical diagnosis, and reference tests ELISA NS1, ELISA IgM, and RT-PCR were obtained for 632 participants. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratios of the use alone, serial and parallel combinations of NS1, IgM, NS1/IgM of the rapid test and clinical diagnosis were compared using Cochran´s Q and MacNemar tests for paired data. Results: The sensitivity of clinical diagnosis (61.4% 95%IC 56-66.7) was higher than the sensitivity of rapid tests (37% 95% IC 29.6-44.7) (P<0.001). The serial used of NS1/IgM rapid test when clinical diagnosis was negative increased the sensitivity to 79.5% and, the serial use when clinical diagnosis was positive increased the specificity (from 66.3% to 98.7%). However, the latter decreased the sensitivity to 32.2%. While all negative likelihood ratios (LR-) were close to 1, the serial use of rapid tests when clinical diagnosis was positive had LR+ higher than 10. Conclusion: The clinical diagnosis is more sensitive than rapid tests, but by itself does not confirm or rule out dengue. A positive result in rapid tests is useful to confirm dengue but a negative result does not rule it out.

EUS-guided tissue acquisition in the study of the adrenal glands: Results of a nationwide multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data about the role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA), by fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) or biopsy (EUS-FNB), in the evaluation of the adrenal glands (AG). The primary aim was to assess the diagnostic yield and safety. The secondary aims were the malignancy predictors, and to create a predictive model of malignancy. METHODS: This was a retrospective nationwide study involving all Spanish hospitals experienced in EUS-TA of AGs. Inclusion period was from April-2003 to April-2016. Inclusion criteria: all consecutive cases that underwent EUS-TA of AGs. EUS and cytopathology findings were evaluated. Statistical analyses: diagnostic accuracy of echoendoscopist's suspicion using cytology by EUS-TA, as gold standard; multivariate logistic regression model to predict tumor malignancy. RESULTS: A total of 204 EUS-TA of AGs were evaluated. Primary tumor locations were lung70%, others19%, and unknown11%. AG samples were adequate for cytological diagnosis in 91%, and confirmed malignancy in 60%. Diagnostic accuracy of the endosonographer's suspicion was 68%. The most common technique was: a 22-G (65%) and cytological needle (75%) with suction-syringe (66%). No serious adverse events were described. The variables most associated with malignancy were size>30mm (OR2.27; 95%CI, 1.16-4.05), heterogeneous echo-pattern (OR2.11; 95%CI, 1.1-3.9), variegated AG shape (OR2.46; 95%CI, 1-6.24), and endosonographer suspicion (OR17.46; 95%CI, 6.2-58.5). The best variables for a predictive multivariate logistic model of malignancy were age, sex, echo-pattern, and AG-shape. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-TA of the AGs is a safe, minimally invasive procedure, allowing an excellent diagnostic yield. These results suggest the possibility of developing a pre-EUS procedure predictive malignancy model.

Subject-Specific Studies of CSF Bulk Flow Patterns in the Spinal Canal: Implications for the Dispersion of Solute Particles in Intrathecal Drug Delivery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent flow dynamics studies have shown that the eccentricity of the spinal cord affects the magnitude and characteristics of the slow bulk motion of CSF in the spinal subarachnoid space, which is an important variable in solute transport along the spinal canal. The goal of this study was to investigate how anatomic differences among subjects affect this bulk flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T2-weighted spinal images were obtained in 4 subjects and repeated in 1 subject after repositioning. CSF velocity was calculated from phase-contrast MR images for 7 equally spaced levels along the length of the spine. This information was input into a 2-time-scale asymptotic analysis of the Navier-Stokes and concentration equations to calculate the short- and long-term CSF flow in the spinal subarachnoid space. Bulk flow streamlines were shown for each subject and position and inspected for differences in patterns. RESULTS: The 4 subjects had variable degrees of lordosis and kyphosis. Repositioning in 1 subject changed the degree of cervical lordosis and thoracic kyphosis. The streamlines of bulk flow show the existence of distinct regions where the fluid particles flow in circular patterns. The location and interconnectivity of these recirculating regions varied among individuals and different positions. CONCLUSIONS: Lordosis, kyphosis, and spinal cord eccentricity in the healthy human spine result in subject-specific patterns of bulk flow recirculating regions. The extent of the interconnectivity of the streamlines among these recirculating regions is fundamental in determining the long-term transport of solute particles along the spinal canal.

Dental developmental alterations in patients with dilacerated teeth

Background: The aim of this study was to record and analyze all DDAs associated to dilacerated teeth in patients attending the clinics of the Postgraduate Division, Facultad de Odontología, UNAM in Mexico City. Material and Methods: Orthopantomograms from all patients seeking for stomatological attention in our institution were reviewed and those cases of dilaceration were separated. Age, gender, diagnosis, location, involved teeth and associated DDAs were recorded and analyzed. Results: From 6,340 patients, 99 (1.6%) harbored 125 dilacerated teeth. Of them, 45 (45.5%) showed one or more DDAs. The most frequently detected DDAs were hypodontia, enamel pearls, taurodontism and microdontia. Conclusions: 45.5% is a very high proportion of DDAs in patients with dilacerated roots. Findings from this study strongly suggest that patients with dilacerated teeth should be carefully screened since many of them could present other DDAs. Simultaneous occurrence of dilaceration and DDAs suggests synchronic developmental defects during dental growth

No disponible

Dental developmental alterations in patients with dilacerated teeth.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to record and analyze all DDAs associated to dilacerated teeth in patients attending the clinics of the Postgraduate Division, Facultad de Odontología, UNAM in Mexico City. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Orthopantomograms from all patients seeking for stomatological attention in our institution were reviewed and those cases of dilaceration were separated. Age, gender, diagnosis, location, involved teeth and associated DDAs were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: From 6,340 patients, 99 (1.6%) harbored 125 dilacerated teeth. Of them, 45 (45.5%) showed one or more DDAs. The most frequently detected DDAs were hypodontia, enamel pearls, taurodontism and microdontia. CONCLUSIONS: 45.5% is a very high proportion of DDAs in patients with dilacerated roots. Findings from this study strongly suggest that patients with dilacerated teeth should be carefully screened since many of them could present other DDAs. Simultaneous occurrence of dilaceration and DDAs suggests synchronic developmental defects during dental growth.

Tratamientos biológicos en asma: una nueva era / Biologic targeted therapy in asthma: a new age

No disponible

Identifying socio-ecological networks in rural-urban gradients: Diagnosis of a changing cultural landscape.

Socio-ecological systems maintain reciprocal interactions between biophysical and socioeconomic structures. As a result of these interactions key essential services for society emerge. Urban expansion is a direct driver of land change and cause serious shifts in socio-ecological relationships and the associated lifestyles. The framework of rural-urban gradients has proved to be a powerful tool for ecological research about urban influences on ecosystems and on sociological issues related to social welfare. However, to date there has not been an attempt to achieve a classification of municipalities in rural-urban gradients based on socio-ecological interactions. In this paper, we developed a methodological approach that allows identifying and classifying a set of socio-ecological network configurations in the Region of Madrid, a highly dynamic cultural landscape considered one of the European hotspots in urban development. According to their socio-ecological links, the integrated model detects four groups of municipalities, ordered along a rural-urban gradient, characterized by their degree of biophysical and socioeconomic coupling and different indicators of landscape structure and social welfare. We propose the developed model as a useful tool to improve environmental management schemes and land planning from a socio-ecological perspective, especially in territories subject to intense urban transformations and loss of rurality.

Decoration of trastuzumab with short oligonucleotides: synthesis and detailed characterization.

Trastuzumab (Herceptin®) is an FDA-approved therapeutic antibody currently employed in the treatment of metastatic stages of breast cancer. Herein, we propose a simple, fast and cost-effective methodology to conjugate trastuzumab with 22-mer 5' thiol-modified oligonucleotides using a bifunctional crosslinker. The conjugates were successfully characterized by MALDI-ToF MS and SDS-PAGE, obviating the need for enzymatic digestion and difficult chromatographic separations. Furthermore, ELISA was performed to ensure that trastuzumab activity is not affected by oligonucleotide conjugation.