Selective plane illumination microscope dedicated to volumetric imaging in microfluidic chambers.

In this article, we are presenting an original selective plane illumination fluorescence microscope dedicated to image "Organ-on-chip"-like biostructures in microfluidic chips. In order to be able to morphologically analyze volumetric samples in development at the cellular scale inside microfluidic chambers, the setup presents a compromise between relatively large field of view (∼ 200 µm) and moderate resolution (∼ 5 µm). The microscope is based on a simple design, built around the chip and its microfluidic environment to allow 3D imaging inside the chip.

Post-transplantation outcome in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis: Comparison with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Introduction And Objectives: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) indication of liver transplant (LT) has increased recently, whereas alcoholic cirrhosis remains a major indication for LT. To characterize NASH-related cases and to compare the post-transplant outcome of these two conditions represents our major objective.

Material And Methods: Patients undergoing LT for NASH between 1997 and 2016 were retrieved.

Sub-wavelength terahertz imaging through optical rectification.

We record a sub-wavelength terahertz image of a caster sugar grain thanks to optical rectification in the sample excited with a femtosecond laser beam. The lateral spatial resolution of this technique is given by the laser spot size at the sample and here its measured value is 50 μm, i.e.

Full electro-optic terahertz time-domain spectrometer for polarimetric studies.

We present a terahertz (THz) time-domain spectrometer dedicated to polarimetric studies. THz pulses are generated through optical rectification in a ⟨111⟩-cut cubic crystal. The ⟨111⟩ crystal cut produces a THz polarization state similar to that of the exciting laser beam.

Determination of refractive index and thickness of a multilayer structure with a single terahertz time domain spectroscopy measurement.

A processing technique for the determination of the average refractive index and thickness of a two-layer system is presented. It is based on a single measurement with a standard terahertz time-domain spectrometer and the multilayer system thickness. The technique relies on the interference caused by the main pulse with the echoes produced in each material.

Birefringence measurement in the terahertz range based on double Fourier analysis.

A method for obtaining the average refractive indexes of a birefringent material in the terahertz region in a single measurement with a standard terahertz time-domain spectrometer is presented. The method is based on processing the frequency-domain interference between terahertz pulses and echoes through the Fourier transform of the terahertz spectrum. The technique also allows the determination of the optical axis orientation of the material by making two measurements with different angles of the sample optical axis.

3-Methyl-2-butene-1-thiol: identification, analysis, occurrence and sensory role of an uncommon thiol in wine.

A highly uncommon odorant, 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol was detected by using Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry (GC-O) and unequivocally identified for the first time in wine. A purge and trap sampling technique which provides highly representative extracts for olfactometric analysis was used for the extraction of the volatile fraction of a Spanish red wine made from Prieto Picudo grapes. The identification of the odorant was achieved by multidimensional gas chromatography analysis of the same purge and trap extract.

Sensory and chemical characterisation of the aroma of Prieto Picudo rosé wines: the differential role of autochthonous yeast strains on aroma profiles.

This study evaluates the specific impact of isolated yeast strains on the aromatic profile of fermented musts from Prieto Picudo, an autochthonous Castilla y León (Spain) red grape variety with an increasing demand in the local marketplace. For this purpose, the aroma profiles of wines elaborated from Prieto Picudo grapes have been studied by sensory analysis, gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), with the aim of determining the potential of each strain to generate distinctive varietal and fermentation-derived aromatic compounds. The results have shown that the yeast strain exerts a critical influence on the levels of some fermentative (linear and branched ethyl esters, fatty acids, ethyl phenylacetate) and varietal compounds (4-mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone, 3-mercaptohexylacetate, β-damascenone), thus inducing a deep influence on the final aroma of the wine.

Glycosidically bound aroma compounds and impact odorants of four strawberry varieties.

This paper reports the determination of glycosidically bound aroma compounds and the olfactometric analysis in four strawberry varieties (Fuentepina, Camarosa, Candonga and Sabrina). Different hydrolytic strategies were also studied. The results showed significant differences between acid and enzymatic hydrolysis.

Anemia is not predictive of sustained virological response in liver transplant recipients with hepatitis C virus who are treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

In the immunocompetent setting, antiviral therapy-related anemia has recently been shown to be associated with a sustained virological response (SVR). Our goal was to assess whether this is also true for liver transplantation (LT). We included 160 LT patients with recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) who were treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (RBV) between 2002 and 2010; 76% of the patients were men, the median age of the patients was 56 years (range = 33-75 years), 63% had advanced fibrosis, and 86% were infected with HCV genotype 1a or 1b.

Quality and aromatic sensory descriptors (mainly fresh and dry fruit character) of Spanish red wines can be predicted from their aroma-active chemical composition.

A satisfactory model explaining quality could be built in a set of 25 high quality Spanish red wines, by aroma-active chemical composition. The quality of the wines was positively correlated with the wine content in fruity esters, acids, enolones, and wood derived compounds, and negatively with phenylacetaldehyde, acetic acid, methional, and 4-ethylphenol. Wine fruitiness was demonstrated to be positively related not only to the wine content on fruity esters and enolones, but to wine volatile fatty acids.

Vascular complications after orthotopic liver transplantation: hepatic artery thrombosis.

Introduction: Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is the second main cause of liver graft failure after primary nonfunction. It is the most frequent arterial complication in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The consensus for early HAT definition consists of an arterial thrombosis detected during the first month after OLT.

[Hepatic cell transplantation. Technical and methodological aspects].

Hepatic cell transplantation consists of grafting already differentiated cells such as hepatocytes. Human hepatocytes are viable and functionally active. Liver cell transplantation is carried out by means of a 3-step method: isolation of hepatocytes from donor liver rejected for orthotopic transplantation, preparing a cell suspension for infusion and, finally, hepatocytes are implanted into the recipient.

Cirrhosis of mixed etiology (hepatitis C virus and alcohol): Posttransplantation outcome-Comparison with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis and alcoholic-related cirrhosis.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease is enhanced by alcohol consumption. Of HCV-related liver transplantation (LT) recipients, 25% have a history of alcohol intake. The purpose of this research was to determine whether LT outcome differs between patients with cirrhosis of mixed etiology compared to HCV or alcohol alone.

Expanded criteria for liver transplantation in patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) selection for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a matter of debate. The Milan criteria (MC) have been largely adopted by the international community. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the survival rates and recurrence probabilities of a new proposal for criteria (up to 3 tumors, each no larger than 5 cm, and a cumulative tumor burden View Article and Find Full Text PDF

[Epidemiological study on chronic renal failure elderly patients on hemodialysis].

Hemodialysis shows an increased prevalence in elderly patients, a population which often presents poor nutrition, high prevalence of cardiovascular, neurological and osteoarticular diseases and psycho-social problems. The objective of this epidemiological, cross-sectional and multicenter study, in patients older than 65 years (n 625) and >75 years (n 558) from 29 Spanish medical institutions was to perform an epidemiological analysis It included demographic information, as well as data regarding chronic renal failure, functional and psychological abilities (Katz Index, Lawton and Karnofsky Scales), dialysis logistics and clinical parameters. The study analyzed data from 1,183 patients (678 female), mean age 75.

[Old donors in liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis C].

Background: the natural history of recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation (LT) is extremely variable, with progression to allograft failure in a substantial proportion of patients. The identification of factors associated with this poorer outcome may improve results. While donor age has been identified as one of the most important factors, the actual options to modify this variable are limited.

[Spanish extrahospitalary hemodialysis centers survey].

Background: Many guides and scientific recommendations about hemodialysis (HD) treatment have been developed. However, its impact and application is unknown. The aim of this study is to describe how Spanish Extrahospitalary Hemodialysis Centers work.

Long-term outcomes in liver transplant patients with hepatic C infection receiving tacrolimus or cyclosporine.

Choice of calcineurin inhibitor may be a contributing factor to deteriorating patient and graft survival following liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus (HCV). In our multicenter, open-label LIS2T study, de novo liver transplant patients stratified by HCV status were randomized to cyclosporine or tacrolimus. Follow-up data were obtained in an observational study of 95 patients.

12-month follow-up analysis of a multicenter, randomized, prospective trial in de novo liver transplant recipients (LIS2T) comparing cyclosporine microemulsion (C2 monitoring) and tacrolimus.

The LIS2T study was an open-label, multicenter study in which recipients of a primary liver transplant were randomized to cyclosporine microemulsion (CsA-ME) (Neoral) (n = 250) (monitoring of blood concentration at 2 hours postdose) C2 or tacrolimus (n = 245) (monitoring of trough drug blood level [predose]) C0 to compare efficacy and safety at 3 and 6 months and to evaluate patient status at 12 months. All patients received steroids with or without azathioprine. At 12 months, 85% of CsA-ME patients and 86% of tacrolimus patients survived with a functioning graft (P not significant).

Combined liver transplantation plus imatinib for unresectable metastases of gastrointestinal stromal tumours.

Therapeutic options for treating unresectable hepatic metastases of leiomyosarcomas were scarce until a few years ago. Recent advances in the study of the biology of intestinal tumours have radically changed our knowledge of their pathogenesis. Many of the tumours previously considered as leiomyosarcomas are now identified as gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs).

Results of lis2t, a multicenter, randomized study comparing cyclosporine microemulsion with C2 monitoring and tacrolimus with C0 monitoring in de novo liver transplantation.

This is the first multicenter, randomized, open-label study to compare the efficacy and safety of cyclosporine A microemulsion (CsA-ME) (Neoral, Novartis, Basel, Switzerland ) with C2 monitoring versus tacrolimus in de novo liver transplant recipients. Patients were stratified according to hepatitis C virus status and randomized to receive CsA-ME (n= 250) or tacrolimus (n= 245) with steroids, with or without azathioprine. The primary endpoint was the incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) at 3 months.

If the donor had an early-stage genitourinary carcinoma and the liver has already been implanted, should we perform the transplantectomy?

Information regarding the outcome of liver grafts from cadaveric donors with genitourinary cancer is scarce. In some cases, the liver has already been implanted when the tumor is detected. What must we do then? Our goal is to evaluate the outcome of recipients of liver allografts from donors with unsuspected early-stage genitourinary carcinoma.