Facile and Low-Cost Fabrication of SiO-Covered Au Nanoislands for Combined Plasmonic Enhanced Fluorescence Microscopy and SERS.

An easy and low-cost way to fabricate monometallic Au nanoislands for plasmonic enhanced spectroscopy is presented. The method is based on direct thermal evaporation of Au on glass substrates to form nanoislands, with thicknesses between 2 and 15 nm, which are subsequently covered by a thin layer of silicon dioxide. We have used HR-SEM and AFM to characterize the nanoislands, and their optical transmission reveals strong plasmon resonances in the visible.

Association among Terminally Differentiated T Cells, Frailty, and Dependency in a Group of Cuban Centenarians.

Introduction: Centenarians are considered a model of successful aging. Cuba exhibits one of the oldest populations in Latin America with more than two thousand centenarians.

Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the immune phenotype of forty-three Cuban centenarians, their clinical characteristics such as comorbidities, frailty, body mass index, and some hemochemical parameters.

Fusion pacing in patients with right bundle branch block who undergo cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Purpose: Patients with right bundle branch block (RBBB) are less likely to respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We aimed to assess whether patients with RBBB respond to CRT with biventricular fusion pacing.

Methods: Consecutive patients with RBBB at a single tertiary care center, who were implanted with a CRT device capable of biventricular fusion pacing using SyncAV programming, were assessed and compared to a historical cohort of CRT patients with RBBB.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy reprogramming to improve electrical synchrony in patients with existing devices.

Background: Optimal programming of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has not yet been fully elucidated. A novel algorithm (SyncAV) has been developed to improve electrical synchrony by fusion of the triple wavefronts: intrinsic, right ventricular (RV)-paced, and left ventricular (LV)-paced.

Methods: Consecutive patients at a single tertiary care center with a previously implanted CRT device with SyncAV algorithm (programmable negative AV hysteresis) were evaluated.

Cheating on Unproctored Internet Test Applications: An Analysis of a Verification Test in a Real Personnel Selection Context.

This study analyses the extent to which cheating occurs in a real selection setting. A two-stage, unproctored and proctored, test administration was considered. Test score inconsistencies were concluded by applying a verification test (Guo and Drasgow Z-test).

[Effects of prolonged endocardial stimulation on left ventricular mechanical synchrony. A pilot study applying gated-SPECT phase analysis. Endocardial stimulation and dyssynchrony].

Objetive: To evaluate left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD) associated with prolonged right ventricular pacing through an innovative imaging technique as a pilot study in Uruguay.

Methods: A 99mTc-MIBI gated-SPECT and phase analysis was performed in 12 patients with pace-makers implanted at least one year before scintigraphy, due to advanced atrioventricular block. Clinical data, QRS duration, rate, mode and site of pacing in right ventricle, chamber diameters, presence and extension of myocardial scar and ischaemia, as well as LVEF at rest, were recorded.

[Left ventricular dyssynchrony in prolonged septal stimulation].

Pacemaker stimulation is associated with unpredictable severe cardiac events. We evaluated left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD) during prolonged septal right ventricular pacing. We performed 99mTc-MIBI gated-SPECT and phase analysis in 6 patients with pacemakers implanted at least one year before scintigraphy due to advanced atrioventricular block.

Tachycardia-dependent bilateral bundle branch block in ischemic heart disease with systolic dysfunction: case report and review of prognostic implications.

A proper characterization of frequency-dependent bundle branch blocks can provide useful prognostic information in some clinical situations. Often, this physiological event may be due to an extensive damage of infrahisian system, which poses a high risk of developing advanced atrioventricular block requiring pacemaker implantation. We describe the case of a 62 year-old man with chronic ischemic heart disease who exhibited alternating tachycardia-dependent bundle branch block during stress test.

Dabigatran and left atrial appendage thrombus.

A 59-year-old white woman with previous history of arterial hypertension consulted because of palpitations. Atrial fibrillation of uncertain duration was diagnosed. She was not receiving anticoagulants.

Utilization study of filgrastim (Neutromax) during autologous haematopoietic precursor transplantation for myeloma and lymphoma patients.

To describe utilization of a biosimilar product containing filgrastim (Neutromax), data of 414 myeloma or lymphoma patients subjected to autologous SCT between 1998 and 2007 were analyzed. Filgrastim was used for mobilization of progenitors (5 days at 300 microg/day) and for the recovery of neutropenia after transplantation (100 microg/day, since day +5). In 2003, the excipient mannitol was replaced by sorbitol.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of interferon beta 1a in Cebus apella.

Background: Recombinant human interferon (hIFN beta) is indicated for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Its effect presents species restriction, thus lacking biological activity on most mammals. Although there have been previous studies of the pharmacology of INF beta in Old World primates, no data exists on New World primates.

Bizionia argentinensis sp. nov., isolated from surface marine water in Antarctica.

A marine bacterial strain, designated strain JUB59(T), was isolated from surface seawater in Antarctica and subsequently characterized. Cells were found to be Gram-negative, non-motile rods forming butyrous, shiny, yellowish orange colonies on marine agar. Growth occurred at 2-28 degrees C (optimally at 22-25 degrees C) but not at 30 degrees C; Na+ ions were required, but 9 % NaCl (w/v) was not tolerated.

Bioequivalence of two subcutaneous pharmaceutical products of interferon beta la.

Blastoferon, in the following referred to as the test product, is a pharmaceutical product of interferon beta la (CAS 220581-49-7) currently marketed as a biosimilar to the innovator Interferon beta la product (referred to as the reference product). Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamIcs assays are critically relevant to demonstrate similarity between biopharmaceuticals. The aims of the present study were to investigate the bioavailability (BA) of the test product (either absolute or relative to the innovator product) and to compare the extent of increase of neopterin concentration following administration of either product.