Effect of topically applied cyclosporin A on arachidonic acid (AA)- and tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA)-induced dermal inflammation in mouse ear

Topical cyclosporin A (CsA) was compared with dexamethasone, indomethacin and phenidone in edema, increases in vascular permeability, eicosanoids and cell-influx induced by arachidonic acid (AA) and tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) in mouse ears. CsA ED(50) on AA-edema (7.7 micrograms/ear) was similar to dexamethasone and lower than indomethacin and phenidone. CsA ED(50) in TPA edema (21 micrograms/ear) was higher than dexamethasone and lower than indomethacin or phenidone. All drugs equally reduce the AA-induced increase in vascular permeability, but CsA and dexamethasone had more activity on TPA. AA-increase in vascular 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was reduced by dexamethasone, indomethacin and phenidone but not by CsA; only phenidone reduced LTB4. TPA-increase in 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was reduced by CsA and indomethacin while CsA, dexamethasone and phenidone decreased LTB4. CsA, indomethacin and phenidone, but not dexamethasone, suppressed AA-neutrophil influx. In TPA-ears all drugs produced similar reduction in neutrophil influx. CsA was shown to be a good topical anti-inflammatory drug.     

High-energy polarized-beam energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis combined with activated thin layers for cadmium determination at trace levels in complex environmental liquid samples

In this paper, we describe a new method for trace level Cd determination in complex environmental liquid samples. Thin layers activated with the extractant Aliquat 336 were prepared either by direct impregnation of commercial polymeric supports or by physical inclusion in a cellulose triacetate matrix, and both were effectively used to collect Cd present at low concentration in different aqueous matrixes. Quantitation of Cd contained in the thin layers was performed by high-energy polarized-beam energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. The effects of various experimental parameters such as layer composition, equilibration time, and instrumental conditions have been investigated. The analysis of different impregnated layers contacted with solutions ranging from 5 to 8000 microg L-1 Cd showed a linear response between the Cd concentration in the aqueous solutions and the metal present in the thin layer, with a detection limit of 0.7 microg L-1. The accuracy of the proposed method was confirmed by analyzing spiked seawater samples and a synthetic water sample containing, besides Cd, high amounts of other metal pollutants such as Ni, Cu, and Pb. The attained results were comparable to those obtained by anodic stripping voltammetry or inductively coupled plasma spectrometry.     

Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis of ancient coins: The case of Greek silver drachmae from the Emporion site in Spain

Greek colonizers arrived at the Iberian Peninsula at the beginning of the sixth century B.C. and founded a small colony known as Emporion in north-east Spain. By the fifth century B.C., this colony became a small polis with a well-organized administrative structure. In this context, the necessity of coinage was a fact and the first coins were minted [1]. Some of these coins were characterized by using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence equipment. The analytical study focused on the elemental characterization of the coins minted from the fourth century to the first century B.C. and their compositional evolution during this period. The investigation has pointed out a very high fineness of the alloys throughout the time, with an average silver content around 98.32%, and the feasibility of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence as a screening tool for the characterization of the alloys.     

In Vitro and Ectopic In Vivo Studies toward the Utilization of Rapidly Isolated Human Nasal Chondrocytes for Single-Stage Arthroscopic Cartilage Regeneration Therapy

Nasal chondrocytes (NCs) have a higher and more reproducible chondrogenic capacity than articular chondrocytes, and the engineered cartilage tissue they generate in vitro has been demonstrated to be safe in clinical applications. Here, we aimed at determining the feasibility for a single-stage application of NCs for cartilage regeneration under minimally invasive settings. In particular, we assessed whether NCs isolated using a short collagenase digestion protocol retain their potential to proliferate and chondro-differentiate within an injectable, swiftly cross-linked and matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)-degradable polyethylene glycol (PEG) gel enriched with human platelet lysate (hPL). NC-hPL-PEG gels were additionally tested for their capacity to generate cartilage tissue in vivo and to integrate into cartilage/bone compartments of human osteochondral plugs upon ectopic subcutaneous implantation into nude mice. NCs isolated with a rapid protocol and embedded in PEG gels with hPL at low cell density were capable of efficiently proliferating and of generating tissue rich in glycosaminoglycans and collagen II. NC-hPL-PEG gels developed into hyaline-like cartilage tissues upon ectopic in vivo implantation and integrated with surrounding native cartilage and bone tissues. The delivery of NCs in PEG gels containing hPL is a feasible strategy for cartilage repair and now requires further validation in orthotopic in vivo models.     

Detection of bacteremia in patients discharged from an emergency unit: study of 61 cases

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in a pregnant population of Barcelona (Spain). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 301 pregnant women controlled in the Hospital Clinic i Provincial (HCP) of Barcelona were enrolled in the study. Complete epidemiological information, and vaginal samples were available in 293 women. BV was diagnosed by Gram stain of vaginal smear (Nugent's criteria). RESULTS: BV was detected in 22 pregnant women (7.5%; 95% CI: 4.6-10.5%). There was no association between race, parity, education, marital status, smoking and drug use, and the presence of BV. Non-use of birth control method (72.3% vs 34.4%; p < 0.0001), presence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) during pregnancy (22.7% vs 3.7%; p < 0.0001), HIV seropositivity (13.6% vs 2.9%; p = 0.041) and presence of symptoms of vaginitis (40.9% vs 13.3%; p = 0.009) were significantly associated with the presence of BV. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of BV in a pregnant population of Barcelona (Spain) is 7.5%. Further work is needed to evaluate the usefulness of BV as a prescreening marker for STD and HIV infection. The Gram stain provides an inexpensive, fast and easy method to diagnose BV, and may allow us to screen, treat and prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with it.     

Reversible cation response with a protein-modified nanopipette

The calcium ion response of a quartz nanopipette was enhanced by immobilization of calmodulin to the nanopore surface. Binding to the analyte is rapidly reversible in neutral buffer and requires no change in media or conditions to regenerate the receptor. The signal remained reproducible over numerous measurements. The modified nanopipette was used to measure binding affinity to calcium ions, with a K(d) of 6.3 ± 0.8 × 10(-5) M. This affinity is in good agreement with reported values of the solution-state protein. The behavior of such reversible nanopore-based sensors can be used to study proteins in a confined environment and may lead to new devices for continuous monitoring.     

Parasomnias in infants below one-year old of age

INTRODUCTION: Certain sleep disorders which occur in children and adults show the same phenomena, although presentation, significance, cause and treatment are all different. However, there are some disorders which are only found in infancy, as in the four conditions which we review below. In spite of great variation between individuals, the general way in which the wakefulness-sleep states mature during the first months of life is well known. In general the physiological patterns of REM and NREM are in general the same in children as in adults. However, the pathological patterns are similar, but there are major differences between them. These differences are mainly physiological, behavioural, parent-child relationship and specific disorders. We shall see that the central alveolar hypoventilation syndrome of infants is not the same as that of adults. The sleep apnea syndrome of the newborn is different to the apneas seen in older children. Benign neonatal myoclonia of sleep are not present in adults, and finally the sudden death of an infant is not like the unexplained nocturnal sudden death or sinus arrest linked to paradoxical sleep in adults.     

Within-subject variation of carcinoembryonic antigen in colorectal cancer -- application of reference of change values and individual reference ranges to patient follow-up

Our aim was to determine whether MRI reliably shows pathology in patients with active otosclerosis (otospongiosis). We studied five patients with clinical and audiometric signs of this disorder and positive findings on high-resolution CT and tympanocochlear scintigraphy. Contrast enhancement of otospongiotic lesions was found in all affected ears, and could be topographically related to demineralised otospongiotic foci on CT. In lesions in the lateral wall of the labyrinth MRI sometimes showed the pathology better than CT, where partial-volume effects could be troublesome.     

A Highly Elastic and Rapidly Crosslinkable Elastin‐Like Polypeptide‐Based Hydrogel for Biomedical Applications

Elastin‐like polypeptides (ELPs) are promising for biomedical applications due to their unique thermoresponsive and elastic properties. ELP‐based hydrogels have been produced through chemical and enzymatic crosslinking or photocrosslinking of modified ELPs. Herein, a photocrosslinked ELP gel using only canonical amino acids is presented. The inclusion of thiols from a pair of cysteine residues in the ELP sequence allows disulfide bond formation upon exposure to UV light, leading to the formation of a highly elastic hydrogel. The physical properties of the resulting hydrogel such as mechanical properties and swelling behavior can be easily tuned by controlling ELP concentrations. The biocompatibility of the engineered ELP hydrogels is shown in vitro as well as corroborated in vivo with subcutaneous implantation of hydrogels in rats. ELP constructs demonstrate long‐term structural stability in vivo, and early and progressive host integration with no immune response, suggesting their potential for supporting wound repair. Ultimately, functionalized ELPs demonstrate the ability to function as an in vivo hemostatic material over bleeding wounds.