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Pharyngoplasty represents one of the most widely performed surgical procedures for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the presence of palate-oropharyngeal collapse. The learning curve for pharyngoplasties is steep and success is conditional on the correct use of the sutures and the careful application of the surgical steps in a narrow surgical field. The use of synthetic models may be conveniently and safely employed for hands-on surgical practice in pharyngoplasties, especially when fresh frozen cadaveric specimens are not available. We present the "Pharyngolab", a new simulator for pharyngoplasties.

Nuevos usos de los desechos orgánicos de los mariscos, plástico orgánico biodegradable y reciclado. Hemos llevado a cabo una comparativa entre el plástico sin adulterar y el adulterado con quitina, esta comparativa ha sido realizada mediante 4 diferentes ensayos, de tracción, de humedad, de temperatura y de conductividad eléctrica. Hemos llegado a la conclusión de que el añadido de quitina proporciona estabilidad y resistencia al material, pero le hace perder tenacidad, debido a que es más propenso a roturas localizadas.Por lo que diferentes usos posibles para el material con quitina serían: Juguetes para mascotas, aparejos de pesca y amortiguadores.

Nowadays, cross-laminated timber buildings (CLT) are becoming very popular worldwide thanks to the possibility of having ecological and resistant structures. A strong point of CLT buildings is the ability to withstand the seismic actions but, on the other hand, in seismic design, it is not too easy to model a CLT structure due to the strong non-linear response. In common practice, the Force-Based design method is the most common type of analysis used by structural engineers which require a suitable numerical model in order to represent the correct structural behaviour against seismic loads, which for the case of CLT buildings is not a simple task as it may be for other more common structural materials. The present paper proposes a new way to model CLT structures for linear dynamic analysis, comparing the result of lateral load analysis and a modal analysis with the most popular numerical models present in literature. Based on analytical and validated models, two elastic modules are introduced to consider all types of deformation mechanisms based on orthotopic shell elements. It is shown how this model is able to capture the deformability of a CLT multi-storey structure accounting simultaneously for the sliding and the rocking deformations which are often neglected.

The demand for the development of a more efficient and durable transportation infrastructure is among the top priorities of highway authorities worldwide. In the United States, the economic impact of steel corrosion for concrete highway bridges is estimated to exceed 15 percent of total annual costs. Degradation affecting steel reinforced concrete (RC) bridge superstructures exposed to harsh environmental conditions is not limited to decks, but includes railings and barriers and can significantly compromise their crashworthiness. Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) is highly suitable for reinforcing concrete structures subjected to corrosive environments and a number of projects have demonstrated its viability as an alternative reinforcement for bridge decks. Until recently, most traffic barriers using GFRP bars were vertical-faced systems. However, the impact time duration of vertical-faced barriers is shorter causing higher peak forces to be transferred to vehicle occupants. Nowadays, GFRP manufacturers can produce standard bar bends which can be used for the reinforcement of safety-shaped concrete railings and barriers. The implementation of GFRP bar bends requires some changes in the current design philosophy for railings and barriers. Whereas the overall goal of the research program is to make the technology of concrete bridge reinforcement with composites available to bridge owners and professionals, this paper provides the principles for the design of safety-shaped GFRP-reinforced concrete railings/barriers.

Here are reported the data about comparison of serum stability and cellular binding properties of 8 DOTA-coupled Bombesin receptor targeting peptides

Specific overexpression of cholecystokinin 2 (CCK2)/Gastrin receptors has been demonstrated in several tumors of neuroendocrine origin. In some of these cancer types, such s medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), there are no effective systemic treatments for metastatic disease. Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) may be a viable therapeutic strategy in the management of these patients. Several CK2R targeted radiopharmaceuticals have been described in recent years. As part of the EU COST action BM0607 we studied the in vitro and in vivo characteristics of 12 DOTA‐conjugated CK2R binding peptides. In the present study, we analyzed binding and internalization characteristics. Stability, biodistribution, and imaging studies have been performed in parallel. methods. Determination of IC50 was performed using autoradiography, with peptides complexed to Indium‐115 displacing 125I‐CCK on tissue sections from human tumors. Saturation binding and internalization experiments were performed using 111In‐labelled peptides (specific activity 2‐10 MBq/nmol). The rat AR42J cell line and the human A431‐CCK2R transfected cell line were utilized for in vitro experiments. Dissociation constants (Kd) and apparent number of binding sites (Bmax) were determined with the aid of graphical analysis software. Internalization was determined in receptor expressing cells by incubating with tracer amounts of peptide at 37 and 4°C for different times up to 120 min. Surface bound peptide was then stripped either by acid wash or incubation with 1μM cold peptide at 4°C. Results. All peptides showed high and similar receptor affinity with IC50 values ranging from 0.2 to 3.4 nM. Saturation experiments also showed high affinity with Kd values in the 10‐9 ‐10‐8 M range. Bmax values estimated in A431‐CCK2R cells ranged from 1 .0‐ 4.6 E6 per cell. Slight differences in the levels of non‐specific binding to cells were observed for the different peptides. All peptides showed high levels of internalization when incubated at 37°C. Conclusion. All DOTA‐conjugated peptides showed similar receptor binding and internalization properties. Issues pertaining to in vivo stability and biodistribution will be important in determining the most promising candidates for further development and clinical application. This study is part of COST Action BM0607‐WG5

Las hormonas regulan diferentes funciones del organismo entre las que se incluyen aquellas vinculadas con el aparato digestivo, lo que resulta interesante por la asociación de éste con distintas etapas del desarrollo del individuo. Para poder aportar nuevos conocimientos, muchos son los aspectos a considerar como por ejemplo el estudio de las sustancias químicas involucradas en el proceso alimentario, como las hormonas gastrointestinales. El objetivo es determinar la presencia de Neuropéptido Y (NPY) en duodeno de fetos de caballo en etapas intermedias del desarrollo. Se utilizaron fetos correspondientes a etapas intermedias de la gestación (periodo G2) obtenidos del frigorífico Aimar-Río Cuarto. Se tomaron muestras de duodeno que fueron fijadas en formol bufferado incluidas en parafina y procesadas con la técnica histológica convencional. Para la determinación del NPY se utilizó la técnica de inmunohistoquímica con anticuerpos comerciales. En las muestras de fetos de periodo G2 se observó la presencia de NPY tanto en epitelio de revestimiento intestinal como en el interior de las glándulas intestinales. El NPY está presente en duodeno, tanto en los enterocitos del epitelio de revestimiento como en las glándulas intestinales. Este hallazgo permitirá aportar conocimientos básicos para futuros estudios fisiológicos relacionados con el rol que cumple el NPY en la especie en estudio., The hormones control different functions of the organism, including those linked with the digestive system. This is interesting because of its association with different stages of individual development. To generate new knowledge, there are many aspects to consider on the digestive system, especially the chemicals involved in the food intake, such as gastrointestinal hormones. The objective of this paper is to determine the presence of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the duodenum of horse fetuses at intermediate stages of development. Fetuses corresponding to the period of gestation G2 obtained from the refrigerator Aimar -Río Cuarto were used. Duodenum samples were fixed in buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin and processed by conventional histological technique. Immunohistochemical technique with commercial antibodies were used for the determination of NPY. In samples from fetuses at intermediate stage of development (G2) the presence of NPY in intestinal epithelium and intestinal glands was observed. Neuropeptide Y is present in duodenal villous enterocytes and in the intestinal glands. This will provide basic knowledge for future studies of the physiological role that NPY has in the species under study., Sociedad de Ciencias Morfológicas de La Plata

Identifying genomic alterations driving breast cancer is complicated by tumor diversity and genetic heterogeneity. Relevant mouse models are powerful for untangling this problem because such heterogeneity can be controlled. Inbred Chaos3 mice exhibit high levels of genomic instability leading to mammary tumors that have tumor gene expression profiles closely resembling mature human mammary luminal cell signatures. We genomically characterized mammary adenocarcinomas from these mice to identify cancer-causing genomic events that overlap common alterations in human breast cancer. Chaos3 tumors underwent recurrent copy number alterations (CNAs), particularly deletion of the RAS inhibitor Neurofibromin 1 (Nf1) in nearly all cases. These overlap with human CNAs including NF1, which is deleted or mutated in 27.7% of all breast carcinomas. Chaos3 mammary tumor cells exhibit RAS hyperactivation and increased sensitivity to RAS pathway inhibitors. These results indicate that spontaneous NF1 loss can drive breast cancer. This should be informative for treatment of the significant fraction of patients whose tumors bear NF1 mutations.

PURPOSE: Specific overexpression of cholecystokinin 2 (CCK2)/gastrin receptors has been demonstrated in several tumours of neuroendocrine origin. In some of these cancer types, such as medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), a sensitive diagnostic modality is still unavailable and therapeutic options for inoperable lesions are needed. Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) may be a viable therapeutic strategy in the management of these patients. Several CCK2R-targeted radiopharmaceuticals have been described in recent years. As part of the European Union COST Action BM0607 we studied the in vitro and in vivo characteristics of 12 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA)-conjugated CCK2R binding peptides. In the present study, we analysed binding and internalization characteristics. Stability, biodistribution and imaging studies have been performed in parallel by other centres involved in the project. METHODS: Determination of IC(50) values was performed using autoradiography, with DOTA-peptides displacing (125)I-CCK from receptors on tissue sections from human tumours. Saturation binding and internalization experiments were performed using (111)In-labelled peptides. The rat AR42J cell line and the human A431-CCK2R transfected cell line were utilized for in vitro experiments; dissociation constants (K(d)) and apparent number of binding sites (B(max)) were determined. Internalization was determined in receptor-expressing cells by incubating with tracer amounts of peptide at 37 and 4°C for different times up to 120 min. Surface-bound peptide was then stripped either by acid wash or subsequent incubation with 1 ?M unlabelled peptide at 4°C. RESULTS: All peptides showed high receptor affinity with IC(50) values ranging from 0.2 to 3.4 nM. Saturation experiments also showed high affinity with K(d) values in the 10(-9)-10(-8) M range. B(max) values estimated in A431-CCK2R cells ranged from 0.6 to 2.2 × 10(6) per cell. All peptides showed high levels of internalization when incubated at 37°C. CONCLUSION: All DOTA-conjugated peptides showed high receptor binding and internalization properties and appear suitable for further characterization, as described in other articles of this issue.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a complex chronic clinical syndrome, characterized by snoring, periodic apnea, hypoxemia during sleep, and daytime hypersomnolence. It affects 4-5% of the general population. Racial studies and chromosomal mapping, familial studies and twin studies have provided evidence for the possible link between the OSAS and genetic factors and also most of the risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of OSAS are largely genetically determined. A percentage of 35-40% of its variance can be attributed to genetic factors. It is likely that genetic factors associated with craniofacial structure, body fat distribution and neural control of the upper airway muscles interact to produce the OSAS phenotype. Although the role of specific genes that influence the development of OSAS has not yet been identified, current researches, especially in animal model, suggest that several genetic systems may be important. In this chapter, we will first define the OSAS phenotype, the pathogenesis and the risk factors involved in the OSAS that may be inherited, then, we will review the current progress in the genetics of OSAS and suggest a few future perspectives in the development of therapeutic agents for this complex disease entity.