Interpenetrated polymer networks of poly(β-cyclodextrin) and polyvinylpyrrolidone with synergistic and selective sorption capacities.

Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels were synthesised using β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and N-vynil-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) crosslinked with epichlorohydrin and divinylbenzene, respectively, and prepared by four different procedures: simultaneous, sequential, hybrid and a novel one named hybrid-sequential. The IPNs prepared have been characterised by infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The equilibrium swelling in water and the sorption of model substances into the IPNs have also been studied.

Synthesis and Characterization of Lignin Hydrogels for Potential Applications as Drug Eluting Antimicrobial Coatings for Medical Materials.

Lignin is the second most abundant biopolymer on the planet. It is a biocompatible, cheap, environmentally friendly and readily accessible material. It has been reported that these biomacromolecules have antimicrobial activities.

Management of COPD in End-of-Life Care by Spanish Pulmonologists.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is progressive and in its advanced stage is associated with major disability. Previous studies suggest that patients with this disease receive little palliative care, even in very advanced stages. Given this, our objectives were to describe the clinical practice of Spanish pulmonologists in the care of patients with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, to identify potential barriers to implementing palliative care in these patients and to correlate these responses with doctor's years of experience.

Danon disease: a novel Lamp-2 gene mutation in a family with four affected members.

This is a report of a family with four members affected with Danon disease and variable clinical presentations, including cardiomyopathy, skeletal muscle pathology, and hepatopathy. Analysis by electron microscopy of the quadriceps muscle from the proband and his brother showed abnormal mitochondria, and immunohistochemistry revealed no expression of LAMP-2 protein. This defect is due to a yet undescribed mutation located at the second nucleotide in the intron 8 of the Lamp-2 gene (c.

[Retrospective analysis of a large number of patients over 70 years old, subject to percutaneous coronary angioplasty or to surgery].

Introduction: The number of patients of advanced age with symptomatic coronary illness that need surgical or percutaneous revascularisation is increasing. The aim of the present paper is to gain knowledge of the evolution of patients over 70 years of age subjected to myocardial revascularisation.

Material And Methods: We compare two groups of patients, in a non-aleatory manner, subjected to angioplasty (N=65) and to surgery (N=75).