Omalizumab in the management of oral corticosteroid-dependent IGE-mediated asthma patients.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of omalizumab in asthma patients. Here we describe the drug's tolerance and oral corticosteroid sparing capacity in a long-term observational study.

Methods: Thirty-two patients aged ≥18 years with obstructive airway disease and FEV(1) reversibility ≥12% and 200  mL, with an oral steroid requirement ≥7.

2nd International external quality control assessment for the molecular diagnosis of dengue infections.

Background: Currently dengue viruses (DENV) pose an increasing threat to over 2.5 billion people in over 100 tropical and sub-tropical countries worldwide. International air travel is facilitating rapid global movement of DENV, increasing the risk of severe dengue epidemics by introducing different serotypes.

Effectiveness of unattended ambulatory sleep studies for the diagnosis and treatment of OSAS.

Background: Unattended home sleep studies have been implemented to minimize the cost and delay in establishing obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) diagnosis and therapy. However, their accuracy and validity remain disputed. The purpose of our study is to assess their effectiveness (i.

Phylogenetic history demonstrates two different lineages of dengue type 1 virus in Colombia.

Background: Dengue Fever is one of the most important viral re-emergent diseases affecting about 50 million people around the world especially in tropical and sub-tropical countries. In Colombia, the virus was first detected in the earliest 70's when the disease became a major public health concern. Since then, all four serotypes of the virus have been reported.

Towards the synthesis of Schiff base macrocycles under supercritical CO2 conditions.

The synthesis of Schiff base macrocycles was achieved using supercritical CO(2) as both solvent and acid catalyst.

Analytical spectroscopic investigation of wavelength and pulse duration effects on laser-induced changes of egg-yolk-based tempera paints.

The application of laser cleaning methodologies to light-sensitive substrates such as those encountered in artistic paintings is an extremely delicate issue. The cleaning of paintings and polychromes is an irreversibly invasive intervention; therefore, prior to the implementation of laser cleaning methodologies, a thorough characterization of the interaction between laser pulses and painting components is required. In this work, the modifications induced by irradiation with pulses of 150 picoseconds (at 1064 and 213 nm) and 15 nanoseconds (at 213 nm) on unvarnished aged model egg-yolk-based paints were examined following a spectroanalytical approach.

Micro-Raman characterization of Zn-diffused channel waveguides in Tm(3+):LiNbO(3).

In this work micro-Raman scattering experiments have been performed in LiNbO(3):Tm(3+) samples with waveguides fabricated by Zn(2+) in-diffusion. The results shown that Zn(2+) ions enter the lattice in Li(+) sites, but also in interstitial positions. This produces a compaction of the lattice close to the surface of the sample, generating the waveguide.

Temporal and spatial patterning of axial myotome fibers in Xenopus laevis.

Somites give rise to the vertebral column and segmented musculature of adult vertebrates. The cell movements that position cells within somites along the anteroposterior and dorsoventral axes are not well understood. Using a fate mapping approach, we show that at the onset of Xenopus laevis gastrulation, mesoderm cells undergo distinct cell movements to form myotome fibers positioned in discrete locations within somites and along the anteroposterior axis.

Zirconium-doped and silicon-doped TiO2 photocatalysts synthesis from ionic-liquid-like precursors.

Nanocrystalline titania powders doped with either zirconium or silicon were synthesized at low temperature via destabilization of ionic-liquid-like precursors. Titania materials prepared at low temperature (85 degrees C) consisted of anatase nanocrystals of about 25 nm, according to powder X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Dopant incorporation was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry, and it was found that dopant/titanium ratios in the powder (0.

State-of-the-art sensor technology in Spain: invasive and non-invasive techniques for monitoring respiratory variables.

The interest in measuring physiological parameters (especially arterial blood gases) has grown progressively in parallel to the development of new technologies. Physiological parameters were first measured invasively and at discrete time points; however, it was clearly desirable to measure them continuously and non-invasively. The development of intensive care units promoted the use of ventilators via oral intubation ventilators via oral intubation and mechanical respiratory variables were progressively studied.

Optimal clinical time for reliable measurement of transcutaneous CO2 with ear probes: counterbalancing overshoot and the vasodilatation effect.

Objectives: To determine the optimal clinical reading time for the transcutaneous measurement of oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) and transcutaneous CO(2) (TcPCO(2)) in awake spontaneously breathing individuals, considering the overshoot phenomenon (transient overestimation of arterial PaCO(2)). EXPERIMENTAL SECTION: Observational study of 91 (75 men) individuals undergoing forced spirometry, measurement of SpO(2) and TcPCO(2) with the SenTec monitor every two minutes until minute 20 and arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis. Overshoot severity: (a) mild (0.

The p.Arg258Gly mutation in intracellular loop 2 of CFTR is associated with CFTR-related disorders.

Missense mutations account for approximately 50% of the mutations described in the CFTR gene. However, their proportion is higher in CFTR-related disorders (CFTR-RD) than in cystic fibrosis (CF), suggesting a different mutational spectrum. The uncertainty surrounding many of these mutations prevents suitable genetic counseling.

Production of hybrid lipid-based particles loaded with inorganic nanoparticles and active compounds for prolonged topical release.

The production of particulate hybrid carriers containing a glyceryl monostearate (Lumulse GMS-K), a waxy triglyceride (Cutina HR), silanized TiO(2) and caffeine were investigated with the aim of producing sunscreens with UV-radiation protection properties. Particles were obtained using the supercritical PGSS (Particles from Gas Saturated Solutions) technique. This method takes advantages of the lower melting temperatures of the lipids obtained from the dissolution of CO(2) in the bulk mixture.

Self-assembly of alpha,omega-aliphatic diamines on Ag nanoparticles as an effective localized surface plasmon nanosensor based in interparticle hot spots.

The adsorption and self-assembly of alpha,omega-aliphatic diamines on silver nanoparticles is studied in this work by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy and plasmon resonance. These bifunctional diamines can act as linkers of metal nanoparticles (NPs) inducing the formation of hot spots (HS), i.e.

Molecular and serologic markers of acute dengue infection in naive and flavivirus-vaccinated travelers.

A total of 520 European travelers with suspected dengue fever were examined, and acute dengue virus infection was confirmed in 127 of them. Molecular and serological tests for dengue diagnosis, according to their usefulness in the different stages of the disease, were performed. The accuracy of the IgM/IgG ratio and the IgG avidity index was confirmed during the early phase of the illness to discriminate the serologic status (primary versus secondary immune response) of patients who were either naive or previously vaccinated against other flaviviruses.

Analysis of PHOTOPERIOD SENSITIVITY5 sheds light on the role of phytochromes in photoperiodic flowering in rice.

A great number of plants synchronize flowering with day length. In rice (Oryza sativa), photoperiod is the primary environmental cue that triggers flowering. Here, we show that the s73 mutant, identified in a gamma-irradiated Bahia collection, displays early flowering and photoperiodic insensitivity due to a null mutation in the PHOTOPERIOD SENSITIVITY5 (SE5) gene, which encodes an enzyme implicated in phytochrome chromophore biosynthesis.

Preparation of silane-coated TiO2 nanoparticles in supercritical CO2.

Nanometric inorganic pigments are widely used as fillers for hybrid composite materials. However, these nanometric powders are hydrophilic in nature and their surface must be functionalized before use. In this work, titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were coated using silane coupling agents with alkyl functionality.

Pleuropulmonary Toxicity of Another Anti-Parkinson's Drug: Cabergoline.

Many drugs may cause toxic injury to the lungs and the pleura. Cabergoline is an ergoline derivative which has been used in Spain for seven years to control symptoms of Parkinson's disease. We report a patient with dyspnea, bilateral pleural effusion and distal swelling.

[Microbiological diagnosis of chikungunya virus in Spain (2006-2007): case detection in travelers].

Introduction: The chikungunya virus is a clear example of an emergent pathogen, as demonstrated by the important outbreaks reported in recent years on some islands in the Indian Ocean, on the Indian subcontinent, and in Italy. The autochthonous outbreak that took place in Europe has shown that the international health authorities were right in their concern about the possibility that this arbovirus could become established in countries with a temperate climate where the appropriate vectors circulate.

Methods: A total of 308 patients were studied to investigate symptoms consistent with infection by this virus occurring during their stay in, or after their return from, an endemic area.

Low temperature N,N-dimethylformamide-assisted synthesis and characterization of anatase-rutile biphasic nanostructured titania.

Anatase and rutile biphasic nanostructured titania (TiO(2)) has been synthesized via hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide in an aqueous solution of hydrobromic acid (HBr) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at 80 degrees C for 16 h. The presence of DMF, which was partially hydrolyzed during the process, determined the formation of a biphasic material. Powder x-ray diffraction showed the presence of both anatase and rutile titania phases in a ratio of approx.

Safety of 17D derived yellow fever vaccines.

Background: Yellow fever, a mosquito-borne viral haemorrhagic fever, is one of the most lethal viral diseases. At present, an efficient vaccine for prevention is available, but may cause serious adverse events.

Methods: The authors review the up-to-date knowledge for serious adverse events of the yellow fever vaccine (YFSAE): hypersensitivity reactions, neurotropic and viscerotropic syndromes.

Self-assembly of a dithiocarbamate calix[4]arene on Ag nanoparticles and its application in the fabrication of surface-enhanced Raman scattering based nanosensors.

The absorption and self-assembly of a dithiocarbamate calix[4]arene derivative (DTCX) on Ag nanoparticles (NPs) was characterized in this work by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). This study was carried out on Ag NPs prepared by chemical reduction of silver nitrate with two different reducing agents: sodium citrate or hydroxylamine hydrochloride. SERS was able to discriminate between the different conformations and interaction geometries adopted by DTCX when adsorbed and self-assembled on Ag NPs at different surface coverings.

Application of principal component analysis to the thermal characterization of silanized nanoparticles obtained at supercritical carbon dioxide conditions.

Samples resulting from reaction of TiO(2) with octyltriethoxysilane, developed using a supercritical carbon dioxide procedure, have been studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopies and thermogravimetric analysis. Different reaction conditions have been applied to the preparation of samples in order to study the influence of experimental factors on the sample properties. Vibrational techniques have first been used to verify the presence of silanized structures on the surface of TiO(2) through the detection of specific bands characteristic of the Si-O-Si cross-linking.

Nanosensors based on viologen functionalized silver nanoparticles: few molecules surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in interparticle hot spots.

The functionalization of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) by viologen dications (VGDs) is reported in this work as well as their applications in the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). VGDs are able to form intermolecular cavities at interparticle junctions (SERS hot spots) where the analyte can be allocated. This leads to a giant intensification of the Raman emission of the target molecule.

Twelve years' experience with methotrexate for GINA treatment step 5 asthma patients.

Background: Certain studies have shown the beneficial effects of methotrexate (MTX) in asthma patients. Here we describe the drug's tolerance and oral corticosteroid sparing capacity in a long-term observational study.

Methods: Forty-four patients with steroid-dependent asthma treated with 10 mg per week of oral MTX were prospectively followed for 91.