Prediction of the structure and mechanical properties of polycaprolactone-silica nanocomposites and the interphase region by molecular dynamics simulations: the effect of PEGylation.

Polymer/silica (PS) nanocomposites are, among numerous combinations of inorganic/organic nanocomposites, one of the most important materials reported in the literature and have been employed in a wide variety of applications. Due to this great interest in the scientific and industry community, knowledge about their physiochemistry allows for a better understanding of their development and improvement. One area of interest found in biopolymers is silica, where silica nanoparticles can be used to increase their mechanical properties and give them higher opportunities to replace synthetic plastics.

Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients With COVID-19: Results of the UMC-19-S10.

Background: There is a lack of knowledge about the real incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with COVID-19, their clinical characteristics, and their prognoses.

Objective: We investigated the incidence, clinical characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of ACS in patients with COVID-19 in the emergency department.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all COVID-19 patients diagnosed with ACS in 62 Spanish emergency departments between March and April 2020 (the first wave of COVID-19).

Adherence to prophylaxis in adult patients with severe haemophilia A.

Introduction: Adherence is a cornerstone of factor VIII prophylactic treatment. Information regarding the factors with potential influence on adherence is limited, particularly in adult patients.

Aim: To assess adherence in adult patients with severe haemophilia A receiving prophylactic treatment in a real-life setting, and investigate the factors influencing adherence.

The use of mixed collagen-Matrigel matrices of increasing complexity recapitulates the biphasic role of cell adhesion in cancer cell migration: ECM sensing, remodeling and forces at the leading edge of cancer invasion.

The migration of cancer cells is highly regulated by the biomechanical properties of their local microenvironment. Using 3D scaffolds of simple composition, several aspects of cancer cell mechanosensing (signal transduction, EMC remodeling, traction forces) have been separately analyzed in the context of cell migration. However, a combined study of these factors in 3D scaffolds that more closely resemble the complex microenvironment of the cancer ECM is still missing.

Genetic Variants and Hamstring Injury in Soccer: An Association and Validation Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association of candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with noncontact hamstring muscle injuries in elite soccer players and to create and validate a model to assess the risk of hamstring injury.

Methods: A total of 107 elite male outfield players were prospectively followed for six seasons. Players were genotyped for 37 SNP previously investigated in relation to musculoskeletal injuries.

I-DNASE21 system: development and SWGDAM validation of a new STR 21-plex reaction.

I-DNASE21 is a new STR multiplex system that amplifies 21 STR autosomal loci, plus the amelogenin locus in one reaction. This system has been designed to analyze all the STR loci included in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), Interpol Standard Set of Loci (ISSL), Extended European Standard Set (ESS-Extended), UK National Criminal Intelligence DNA Database (NDNAD) and German Core loci (GCL). This manuscript presents the validation of the I-DNASE21 system according to the revised guidelines issued by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM).

Emerging viral infections‑-a potential threat for blood supply in the 21st century.

During the last 25 years the safety of blood products has improved dramatically with regard to infectious risk, notably to the threat represented by retroviruses (HIV and human T‑cell lymphotropic virus) and hepatitis B and C viruses. However, both residual and emergent viral infections are still responsible for contaminations in recipients of blood products. Along with other viruses (human herpesvirus‑8, human parvovirus B19, hepatitis A and E viruses, etc.

Population genetic data for 10 X-STR loci in autochthonous Basques from Navarre (Spain).

Ten X chromosome markers (DXS6789, DXS6809, DXS7132, DXS7133, DXS7423, DXS8378, DXS9898, DXS9902, GATA172D05, and GATA31E08) were analyzed in a sample of 185 unrelated autochthonous Basques from Navarre. Deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and linkage disequilibrium between markers were not observed at any loci. Combined power of discrimination was 0.

Mitochondrial DNA control region variation in an autochthonous Basque population sample from the Basque Country.

Mitochondrial control region (16024-576) sequences were generated from 106 samples from autochthonous Basques from the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country. It is especially important to generate mtDNA databases from isolated populations in order to maximize the power of discrimination of this molecular marker. It also represents a useful approach to carry out a more accurate haplogroup classification.

Y-STR variation in the Basque diaspora in the Western USA: evolutionary and forensic perspectives.

Individuals of Basque origin migrated in large numbers to the Western USA in the second half of the nineteenth century, and the flow continued with less intensity during the last century. The European source population, that of the Basque Country, has long been a cultural and geographical isolate. Previous studies have demonstrated that Y-STR frequencies of Basques are different from those of other Spanish and European populations [1].

Development and validation for identity testing of I-DNADuo, a combination of I-DNA1 and a new multiplex system, I-DNA2.

The I-DNADuo multiplex system combination is composed of previously validated I-DNA1 and a new short tandem repeat (STR) multiplex named I-DNA2 that analyses 11 STR loci plus amelogenin. I-DNADuo, with amplicon sizes ranging from 57 to 298 bp, is specifically designed to analyse amelogenin and 15 STR loci (ten of them plus amelogenin in duplicate), including all the STR loci of the CODIS, ISSL and ECL databases, and seven of the eight in GCL. The validation of I-DNADuo shows that it is a highly sensitive, robust multiplex system for obtaining individual genetic profiles and for detecting and preventing allelic dropouts.

Implementation of SintromacWeb(R), a new internet-based tool for oral anticoagulation therapy telecontrol: Study on system consistency and patient satisfaction.

Most computer- or internet-assisted systems for oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) telemanagement have limitations when it comes to implementation within a healthcare center. It was the objective of this study to evaluate convenience and patient satisfaction with the use of SintromacWeb, a new OAT telecontrol system, compared with the conventional control. SintromacWeb consists of a point-of-care device for patient international normalized ratio (INR) self-testing and software that allows internet mediated interaction with physicians.

Diagnostic accuracy of clinical criteria for identifying systolic and diastolic heart failure: cross-sectional study.

Objective: To determine the validity and clinical usefulness of clinical criteria in the diagnosis of systolic and diastolic heart failure.

Design: Cross-sectional diagnostic study.

Methods: 216 patients admitted consecutively to the cardiology section of an academic hospital with a suspected diagnosis of heart failure in a period of 12 months.

Identification of deletion carriers in hemophilia B: quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or multiple ligation probe amplification.

Gross deletions in the F9 gene are easily detected by routinely sequencing hemophilia B-affected men. Nevertheless, a carrier diagnosis proves difficult as the presence of a normal allele does not recognize the partial or complete loss of the F9 gene and may be challenging if no DNA sample from affected men is available. This work aimed to identify hemophilia carriers in 2 families in which gross deletions of the F9 gene could be expected.

[Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Spanish population aged 60 years-old or more. PREV-ICTUS, a population-based study].

Background And Objective: Information about the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in elderly population is scarce. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of MS in Spanish population=60 years-old and the associated factors.

Patients And Method: Epidemiological population-based cross-sectional study carried out on a randomized representative simple of subjects aged=60 years-old across the Spanish territory, stratified according to autonomous communities, census and population setting.

The impact of occult renal failure on the cardiovascular risk stratification in an elderly population: the PREV-ICTUS study.

Background And Objectives: To analyze the impact of occult renal failure (ORF) in the individual risk stratification and on the blood pressures (BP) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) goals in an aged population, according to the ESH/ESC Hypertension Guidelines.

Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based study on individuals aged 60 years or more carried out in Primary Care Centers of Spain. Kidney function was estimated from calculated creatinine clearance (eGFR), Cockroft and Gault formula.

[Poliostotic fibrous dysplasia with affectation of cervical rachis].

The fibrous dysplasia is a benign although progressive dysfunction, in which a gene mutation originates the production of fibrous disorganized bony matrix. The bony tissue is replaced by bony tissue in expansion (amorph conjuntival tissue) that produces bony deformities in some patients, pain, pathological fractures or deambulation disorders. The diagnosis is important since ocasionally the first symptom is the fracture.

Novel missense mutation c.2685G>C (p.Q895H) in VWF gene associated with very low levels of VWF mRNA.

Homozygous patients for null alleles in VWF gene show a severe von Willebrand phenotype, whereas compound heterozygous patients only show the phenotype of the expressed allele. Five members of the same family were studied. The two patients showed borderline VWF levels, a mild factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency and a decrease of the binding of VWF to exogenous FVIII.

Independent impact of obesity and fat distribution in hypertension prevalence and control in the elderly.

Background: Studies on the impact of weight excess and fat distribution on blood pressure are usually limited to young and middle-aged population, and data on the elderly are scarce.

Methods And Results: We performed an analysis of the Prevencion de Riesgo de Ictus, a population-based study on individuals aged 60 years or more in Spain, to assess the impact of weight excess, stratified by body mass index (normal <25; overweight 25-29.9; obesity > or =30 kg/m), and waist circumference [increased if > or =88 cm (women) or > or =102 (men)] on the prevalence on hypertension and lack of blood pressure control.

[Prevalence and related factors of overweight and obesity in Spanish population aged 60 years-old or older. The PREV-ICTUS study].

Background And Objective: Data on the prevalence of obesity in elderly population in Spain are scarce. The objective of this work was to describe the prevalence of obesity and the related factors in a random sample of Spanish population aged 60 years-old or more, stratified by autonomous communities.

Subjects And Method: We analyzed the PREV-ICTUS study, a population-based study carried out between September and December 2005 in a random sample stratified by autonomous communities according to the census of inhabitants and the habitat in each community.