6-Nitrodopamine is a novel catecholamine released by vascular tissues, heart, and vas deferens. The aim of this study was to investigate whether 6-nitrodopamine is released from the thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery rings of marmosets (Callithrix spp.) and to evaluate the relaxing and anti-contractile actions of this catecholamine. Release of 6-nitrodopamine, dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline was assessed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The relaxations induced by 6-nitrodopamine and by the selective dopamine D2 receptor antagonist L-741,626 were evaluated on U-46619 (3 nM)-pre-contracted vessels. The effects of 6-nitrodopamine and L-741,626 on the contractions induced by electric-field stimulation (EFS), dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline were also investigated. Both aorta and pulmonary artery rings exhibited endothelium-dependent release of 6-nitrodopamine, which was significantly reduced by the NO synthesis inhibitor L-NAME. Addition of 6-nitrodopamine or L-741,626 caused concentration-dependent relaxations of both vascular tissues, which were almost abolished by endothelium removal, whereas L-NAME and the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ had no effect on 6-nitrodopamine-induced relaxations. Additionally, pre-incubation with 6-nitrodopamine antagonized the dopamine-induced contractions, without affecting the noradrenaline- and adrenaline-induced contractions. Pre-incubation with L-741,626 antagonized the contractions induced by all catecholamines. The EFS-induced contractions were significantly increased by L-NAME, but unaffected by ODQ. Immunohistochemical assays showed no immunostaining of the neural tissue markers S-100 and calretinin in either vascular tissue. The results indicated that 6-nitrodopamine is the major catecholamine released by marmoset vascular tissues, and it acts as a potent and selective antagonist of dopamine D2-like receptors. 6-nitrodopamine release may be the major mechanism by which NO causes vasodilatation.

Abstract: The use of materials capable of controlling the threshold temperature required in hyperthermia, as well as meeting desired requirements in biomedical applications is still a challenge. In the present study, strontium doped calcium lanthanum manganites La0.7Ca0.3-xSrxMnO3 (x=0, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2) were synthesized by co-precipitation method. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) was used to study the effect of Ca-Sr ratio change on magnetic properties. The Curie temperature (Tc) increases from 272 to 315 K as the concentration increases from x=0 to x=0.2, respectively. Hence the strontium amount plays an essential role in achieving the desired Tc. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to identify the rhombohedral structure and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the cubic morphology and determinate the average particles size around 800 nm.

Introduction: The “Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society Health Index” (ASAS-HI) questionnaire was developed to globally measure function and health status in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). Cut-off points have been proposed to determine different health states that were poorly evaluated in real-life patients. Objectives: To describe the health status measured by ASAS-HI in Argentine patients with axial SpA (AxSpA) and peripheral SpA (SpAp) in daily practice and to evaluate the factors associated with poor health. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional, analytical and multicenter study. Patients with SpAax and SpAp were consecutively included according to ASAS criteria, from 15 Argentine centers. Statistical analysis: Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate analysis (multiple logistic regression) were performed to evaluate the factors associated with poor health status (ASAS-HI ≥12). To analyze the construct validity of the tool, Spearman correlation was performed between the ASAS-HI and other disease evaluation parameters. Results: 274 patients with SpA were included, with a mean age of 49 (± 14) years and a median duration of the disease of 62 months (p25-75: 24-135), 155 (56.6%) were male, 129 patients (47%) with AxSpA and 145 (52.9%) SpAp. According to the ASAS-HI, 119 patients (43.4%) had good health, 117 (42.7%) had moderate health and 38 (13.9%) had poor health. In patients with SpAp, the mean ASAS-HI value was 7 (p25-75: 3-10). The ASAS-HI positively correlated with: DAS28: rho: 0.5 (p <0.001) and HAQ: rho: 0.54 (p <0.001). The variable independently associated with poor health status was DAS28 (OR: 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.4, p: 0.029). In patients with AxSpA, the mean ASAS-HI value was 6 (p25-75: 2.75-10). The ASAS-HI showed correlation with: BASDAI: rho: 0.7 (p <0.001), ASDAS-ERS: rho: 0.7 (p <0.001), ASQoL: rho: 0.8 (p <0.001), BASFI rho: 0.75 (p <0.001). The variable that was independently associated with poor health was the ASDAS-ERS (OR 6.6, 95% CI 2-22, p 0.002). Conclusion: Poor health status was independently associated with higher disease activity in patients with AxSpA and SpAp. The ASAS-HI correlated with other parameters of the disease, which reinforces the construct validity of this new tool.

Introducción: El cuestionario “Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society Health Index” (ASAS-HI) fue desarrollado para medir de manera global la funcionalidad y el estado de salud en pacientes con espondiloartritis (EspA). Se han propuesto puntos de corte para determinar diferentes estados de salud que fueron poco evaluados en pacientes de la vida real. Objetivos: Describir el estado de salud medido por ASAS-HI en pacientes argentinos con EspA axial (EspAax) y periférica (EspAp) en la práctica diaria y evaluar los factores asociados al pobre estado de salud. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de corte transversal, analítico y multicéntrico. Se incluyeron consecutivamente pacientes con EspAax y EspAp según criterios ASAS, de 15 centros argentinos. Análisis estadístico: Se realizó estadística descriptiva, análisis bivariado y multivariado (regresión logística múltiple) para evaluar los factores asociados al pobre estado de salud (ASAS-HI ≥12). Para analizar la validez de constructo de la herramienta se realizó correlación de Spearman entre el ASAS-HI y otros parámetros de evaluación de la enfermedad. Resultados: Se incluyeron 274 pacientes con EspA, con una edad media de 49 (±14) años y una duración mediana de la enfermedad de 62 meses (p25-75: 24-135), 155 (56,6%) de los pacientes eran de sexo masculino, 129 pacientes (47%) con EspAax y 145 (52,9%) EspAp. Según el ASAS-HI 119 pacientes (43,4%) presentaban buen estado de salud, 117 (42,7%) tenían estado de salud moderado y 38 (13.9%) pobre estado de salud. En los pacientes con EspAp el valor de ASAS-HI mediano fue de 7 (p25-75: 3-10). El ASAS-HI correlacionó positivamente con: DAS28: rho: 0.5 (p<0.001) y HAQ: rho: 0.54 (p<0.001). La variable asociada de manera independiente con pobre estado de salud fue el DAS28 (OR: 1.9, IC95% 1.1-3.4, p: 0.029). En los pacientes con EspAax el valor de ASAS-HI mediano fue de 6 (p25-75: 2.75-10). El ASAS-HI mostró correlación con: BASDAI: rho: 0.7 (p<0.001), ASDAS-ERS: rho: 0.7 (p<0,001), ASQoL: rho: 0.8 (p<0.001), BASFI rho: 0.75 (p<0.001). La variable que se asoció de manera independiente a pobre estado de salud fue el ASDAS-ERS (OR 6.6, IC95% 2-22, p 0.002). Conclusión: Un pobre estado de salud se asoció independientemente a mayor actividad de la enfermedad en pacientes con EspAax y EspAp. El ASAS-HI correlacionó con otros parámetros de la enfermedad, lo que refuerza la validez de constructo de esta nueva herramienta.

This article develops a Large Bayesian VAR with more than 100 variables for the Chilean economy, as Banbura, Giannone and Reichlin (2010) shows that, when the degree of shrinkage is set in relation to the cross-sectional dimension of the sample (bayesian shrinkage), the forecasting performance of a VAR can be improved by adding macroeconomic variables and sectoral information. The results show that the large bayesian VAR compares favorably with some univariate models. It further examines the impulse response functions to a monetary shock, as well as some sectoral shocks.

Este artículo desarrolla un gran VAR bayesiano con más de cien variables para la economía chilena, en el mismo sentido que Banbura, Giannone y Reichlin (2010) se muestra que cuando el grado de contracción del ajuste de los priors son fijados en relación a la dimensión del corte transversal de la muestra (bayesian shrinkage), la capacidad predictiva de un VAR puede ser mejorado agregando variables macroeconómicas e información sectorial. Los resultados muestran que la predicción del gran VAR bayesiano se compara favorablemente con relación a algunos modelos univariados. Se examinan adicionalmente los impulsos respuesta a un shock monetario, así como también de algunos shocks sectoriales.

Objective: To evaluate whether the size of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) shows circadian variability. Design: An observational, prospective study. Setting: A 12-bed coronary care unit. Patients: Consecutive patients diagnosed with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Interventions: The patients were divided into two groups according to the time of onset of AMI symptoms (Group A: 0-12hours, Group B: 12-24 hours). Main variables of interest: Age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, coronary anatomy, left ventricular ejection fraction, infarct location, time from onset of symptoms to reperfusion, presence of heart failure upon admission, and peak troponin I value. Results: A total of 108 patients with a diagnosis of STEMI were included. Patients in group A showed a higher troponin I concentration compared to group B (troponin I: 70.85±16.38 versus 60.90±22.92ng / ml, p=0.003). In the multivariate analysis the onset of AMI between 0-12 hours was identified as an independent predictor of infarct size (OR: 1.133, 95%CI 1.012-1.267, p=0.01). Conclusions: An onset of AMI between 0-12 hours results in a significantly larger final size of necrosis compared with any other time of presentation.

Objetivo: Evaluar si el tamaño del infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) presenta variabilidad circadiana. Diseño: Estudio prospectivo observacional. Ámbito: Unidad coronaria de 12 camas. Pacientes: Enfermos consecutivos con diagnóstico de IAM con elevación del segmento ST sometidos a intervención coronaria percutánea primaria. Intervenciones: Se dividió a los pacientes en 2 grupos, dependiendo del horario de inicio de los síntomas del IAM (grupo A: 0-12 h; grupo B: 12-24 h). Variables de interés principales: Edad, sexo, factores de riesgo cardiovascular, anatomía coronaria, fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo, localización del infarto, tiempo de inicio de los síntomas y reperfusión, presencia de insuficiencia cardiaca al ingreso, pico de troponina I. Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 108 pacientes con diagnóstico de IAM con elevación del segmento ST. Los pacientes del grupo A presentaron concentración de troponina I mayor con respecto al grupo B (70,85±16,38 frente a 60,90±22,92 ng/ml, p=0,003). En el análisis multivariado el inicio del IAM entre las 0-12 h se mostró como un predictor independiente del tamaño del infarto (OR: 1,133, IC del 95% 1.012-1,267; p=0,01). Conclusiones: El inicio del IAM entre las 0-12 h resulta en un tamaño necrótico final significativamente mayor que cuando se inicia en cualquier otro momento del día.

We have determined the electrochemical behavior of a series of long chain 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids [(R-mim)BF4], with alkyl groups ranging from pentyl to octyl, and tested them as electrolytes in lithium ion batteries. These ionic liquids present good conductivities and electrochemical Windows which make them likely solvents of choice for Li-ion batteries using LiMn2O4 as the cathode. Charge/discharge properties of a Li/ R-mim)BF4/LiMn2O4 cell have been evaluated both with the IL as the sole electro lyte and with IL and conducting support. The Li- ion insertion results in IL can be explained on the basis of self aggregation of each long chain 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cation.