Irene Garcia - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Irene Garcia

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry

In this work, gold nanoparticles lower than 10 nm were prepared in an aqueous medium using two ch... more In this work, gold nanoparticles lower than 10 nm were prepared in an aqueous medium using two charged silsesquioxanes, the propylpyridinium chloride and propyl-1-azonia-4-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane chloride, as stabilizer agents which revealed to be water-soluble. This stabilization method is innovative allowing thin films containing gold nanoparticles to be obtained, and it was used for the first time in the preparation of carbon paste electrodes (CPEs). The charged silsesquioxanes were characterized by liquid 13C NMR. The gold nanoparticle/silsesquioxane systems were characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) and transmission electron microscopy. In sequence, they were immobilized on silica matrix coated with aluminum oxide. The resulting solid materials designated as Au-Py/AlSi and Au-Db/AlSi were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms. The results showed that the gold nanoparticle/silsesquioxane systems are strongly adhered to...

Blood

Angiostatin is a circulating inhibitor of angiogenesis generated by proteolytic cleavage of plasm... more Angiostatin is a circulating inhibitor of angiogenesis generated by proteolytic cleavage of plasminogen. In this study we have used recombinant human and murine angiostatins (kringles 1-4) as well as native human angiostatin (prepared by elastase digestion of plasminogen [kringles 1-3] or by plasmin autocatalysis in the presence of a free sulfhydryl donor [kringles 1-4]). We report that angiostatin reduces endothelial cell number in a 4-day proliferation assay without affecting cell cycle progression into S-phase (as determined by bromodeoxyuridine labeling). This suggested that the reduction in cell number in the proliferation assay might in part be due to cytotoxicity. This was confirmed by the observation that ethidium homodimer incorporation (a measure of plasma membrane integrity) into endothelial cells was increased by angiostatin in a manner similar to that seen with tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), both of which induce apoptosis...

Summary Syncope is a common clinical problem in the emergency room. Many patients have recurrence... more Summary Syncope is a common clinical problem in the emergency room. Many patients have recurrences of syncope at follow up. Although many tests have been used for the evaluation of syncope, in some cases it is not possible to find the aetiology. In this paper we analyse the basis, utility and therapeutic implications of ATP test in the diagnosis of

Archives of Ophthalmology, 2008

A 73-year-old white woman was referred with a 3-month history of pain, epiphora, photophobia, and... more A 73-year-old white woman was referred with a 3-month history of pain, epiphora, photophobia, and decreased vision in her left eye. Her ocular history included complicated cataract extraction with anterior chamber intraocular lens in the left eye in 1987 as well as ...

PLoS Pathogens, 2014

Patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) lack generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS... more Patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) lack generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the phagocyte NADPH oxidase NOX2. CGD is an immune deficiency that leads to frequent infections with certain pathogens; this is well documented for S. aureus and A. fumigatus, but less clear for mycobacteria. We therefore performed an extensive literature search which yielded 297 cases of CGD patients with mycobacterial infections; M. bovis BCG was most commonly described (74%). The relationship between NOX2 deficiency and BCG infection however has never been studied in a mouse model. We therefore investigated BCG infection in three different mouse models of CGD: Ncf1 mutants in two different genetic backgrounds and Cybb knock-out mice. In addition, we investigated a macrophage-specific rescue (transgenic expression of Ncf1 under the control of the CD68 promoter). Wild-type mice did not develop severe disease upon BCG injection. In contrast, all three types of CGD mice were highly susceptible to BCG, as witnessed by a severe weight loss, development of hemorrhagic pneumonia, and a high mortality (,50%). Rescue of NOX2 activity in macrophages restored BCG resistance, similar as seen in wild-type mice. Granulomas from mycobacteria-infected wild-type mice generated ROS, while granulomas from CGD mice did not. Bacterial load in CGD mice was only moderately increased, suggesting that it was not crucial for the observed phenotype. CGD mice responded with massively enhanced cytokine release (TNF-a, IFN-c, IL-17 and IL-12) early after BCG infection, which might account for severity of the disease. Finally, in wild-type mice, macrophages formed clusters and restricted mycobacteria to granulomas, while macrophages and mycobacteria were diffusely distributed in lung tissue from CGD mice. Our results demonstrate that lack of the NADPH oxidase leads to a markedly increased severity of BCG infection through mechanisms including increased cytokine production and impaired granuloma formation.

Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section B-Beam Interactions With Materials and Atoms, 1999

In this contribution we investigate the thermal stability of irradiated AZ-1350J novolac-diazoqui... more In this contribution we investigate the thermal stability of irradiated AZ-1350J novolac-diazoquinone photoresist ®lms, as a function of the¯uence for 380 keV He ions in the range from 10 13 to 10 15 He cm À2 . The techniques of RBS, NRA, ERDA, FTIR and solubility tests are used to study in detail the composition and chemical structure of the ®lms before and after the irradiations, and after isothermal heat treatments at 350°C during 6 h. Our results show that 10 15 He cm À2 at 380 keV, transferring an average electronic energy density of 2.0 eV/ # A 3 to the whole volume of the photoresist, is sucient to produce an eective crosslinking, without a signi®cant damage to the polymer, and promoting a substantial improvement in the thermal stability of the photoresist at 350°C. For lower¯uences the ®lms are not stable at this temperature. Ó

Materials Letters, 2007

Several attractive types of amorphous or crystalline carbon nanostructure were obtained by a sing... more Several attractive types of amorphous or crystalline carbon nanostructure were obtained by a single catalytic process, during natural gas decomposition using different nanostructured catalysts as template. The nanostructured catalyst templates were based on transition metal nanoparticles embedded in carbon matrixes and nanoceramic supports which consist of magnesium oxide doped with ceria rare earths, prepared by the high-energy mechanical milling. The yield and the nature of the nanostructured carbon are strongly influenced by the preparation method of the template and the chemical composition of the catalysts.

Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 2008

Here we describe a single chemical route to obtain highly dispersed nanometric Ni particles embed... more Here we describe a single chemical route to obtain highly dispersed nanometric Ni particles embedded in titania/carbon matrixes (amorphous and crystalline). The synthesis of these nanocomposites is based on a polymeric precursor method. The metallic Ni nanoparticles (1-15 nm) were obtained in a single process. We also present the results of photocatalytic experiments involving a series of nanocrystalline composites based on TiO 2 /carbon with embedded Ni nanoparticles as nanocatalysts for rhodamine 6G degradation in aqueous solution and investigate the effects of the structure and properties of the nanocomposites on their photocatalytic applications. The effect of the different annealing treatments on the formation of TiO 2 nanophases (anatase and/or rutile), the size of Ni particles and the role of the residual carbon phase on the final solid are also described. r

Environmental Chemistry Letters, 2010

Al 2 O 3 , MgO, SiO 2 and ZnO-supported nickel catalysts were prepared and evaluated in the ethan... more Al 2 O 3 , MgO, SiO 2 and ZnO-supported nickel catalysts were prepared and evaluated in the ethanol steam reforming for hydrogen production. It is shown that the catalytic behavior can be influenced depending on the experimental conditions employed and chemical composition of the catalyst.

Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2011

Interactions between uncharged polymers and cationic surfactants are considered weaker than inter... more Interactions between uncharged polymers and cationic surfactants are considered weaker than interactions with the anionic analogues. This work describes the binding occurring between methylcellulose (MC) and the cationic surfactant DTAB in aqueous medium. In the absence of salt, MCÀDTAB exhibits a maximum in hydrodynamic radius, R h,slow , with the increase in the surfactant concentration. Otherwise, in presence of salt the MCÀDTAB system shows only a linear increase of R h,slow . CAC is lower than the CMC, which is taken as an evidence of binding between the cationic surfactant and neutral polymer that induces the aggregation process. Static light scattering, rheology and micro-DSC results highlight the hydrophobic MCÀDTAB association. Salt-out and the salt-in effects were observed in presence of DTAB, with a clear transition at concentration values close to the CMC, as judged from rheological and micro DSC measurements. Indeed, DTAB affects both the pattern of the solÀgel transition and the gel strength.

Applied Surface Science, 2011

A photoactive complex based on europium(III) using the amino acid phenylalanine as ligand was pre... more A photoactive complex based on europium(III) using the amino acid phenylalanine as ligand was prepared and characterized. The obtained europium(III)/phenylalanine complex presents an effective energy transfer from ligands to the rare earth center. The observed photoluminescent behavior for europium(III)/phenylalanine complex was similar to the well known europium(III)/ acetyl-␤-acetonate hydrate. New photoactive polyamide thin films were prepared using polycaprolactam as host of these complexes. The structural characterizations of the films were studied through Rutherford backscattering (RBS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies. The polyamide films doped with the amino acid and acetyl-␤-acetonate rare earth complexes maintain the original photoluminescent behavior, narrow emission bands corresponding to transitions 5 D 0 → 7 F 0-4 , which indicates that this polymer is an excellent host to these complexes.

Surface and Interface Analysis, 2013

ABSTRACT Poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) is a resistant to high temperatures and chemical... more ABSTRACT Poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) is a resistant to high temperatures and chemically stable engineering material. The application as coatings and membranes, however, is limited by its poor interaction with other materials. In this report, we describe the molecular modification of PMIA through reaction with dimsyl sodium and 2-iodine-1-ethanol. The substitution of 58% of amide hydrogen by ethanol (etOH) groups produces a material (MPMIA) able to develop regularly structured films on silicon substrate. The morphology of the films is dependent on the ionic strength of the precursory solution. MPMIA starts a degradation process by losing the etOH group. MPMIA has a better affinity with poly(p-cresolformaldehyde) than with a pristine one, increasing the range of composition in which thermal stability and miscibility are observed. Thin films of these blends have different morphologies that vary from nanometric porous to two-phase microstructured grains, according to the composition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PloS one, 2012

A safe and effective HIV vaccine is required to significantly reduce the number of people becomin... more A safe and effective HIV vaccine is required to significantly reduce the number of people becoming infected with HIV each year. In this study wild type Mycobacterium bovis BCG Pasteur and an attenuated pantothenate auxotroph strain (BCGΔpanCD) that is safe in SCID mice, have been compared as vaccine vectors for HIV-1 subtype C Gag. Genetically stable vaccines BCG[pHS400] (BCG-Gag) and BCGΔpanCD[pHS400] (BCGpan-Gag) were generated using the Pasteur strain of BCG, and a panothenate auxotroph of Pasteur respectively. Stability was achieved by the use of a codon optimised gag gene and deletion of the hsp60-lysA promoter-gene cassette from the episomal vector pCB119. In this vector expression of gag is driven by the mtrA promoter and the Gag protein is fused to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 19 kDa signal sequence. Both BCG-Gag and BCGpan-Gag primed the immune system of BALB/c mice for a boost with a recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara expressing Gag (MVA-Gag). After the boost hig...

Vaccine, Jan 9, 2009

In this study, we have compared the immunological responses associated with early pulmonary mycob... more In this study, we have compared the immunological responses associated with early pulmonary mycobacterial infection in two mouse strains, BALB/c and C57BL/6 known to exhibit distinct differences in susceptibility to infection with several pathogens. We infected mice via the intranasal route. We have demonstrated that BALB/c was less able to control mycobacterial growth in the lungs during the early phase of pulmonary infection. Our results showed that during the early phase (day 3 to week 1), BALB/c mice exhibited a delay in the production of TNF and IFN-gamma in the lungs compared to C57BL/6 mice. Levels of IL-12 and soluble TNF receptors (sTNFR) were comparable between the mouse strains. The cellular subset distribution in these mice before and after infection showed a higher increase in CD11b+ cells in the lungs of C57BL/6, compared to BALB/c as early as day 3 postinfection. At early time points, higher levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and macrophage inflammator...

International journal of environmental research and public health, 2014

To analyze changes in access to health care and its determinants in the immigrant and native-born... more To analyze changes in access to health care and its determinants in the immigrant and native-born populations in Spain, before and during the economic crisis. Comparative analysis of two iterations of the Spanish National Health Survey (2006 and 2012). Outcome variables were: unmet need and use of different healthcare levels; explanatory variables: need, predisposing and enabling factors. Multivariate models were performed (1) to compare outcome variables in each group between years, (2) to compare outcome variables between both groups within each year, and (3) to determine the factors associated with health service use for each group and year. unmet healthcare needs decreased in 2012 compared to 2006; the use of health services remained constant, with some changes worth highlighting, such as the decline in general practitioner visits among autochthons and a narrowed gap in specialist visits between the two populations. The factors associated with health service use in 2006 remained...

Immunity, Inflammation and Disease, 2013

TNF and IL-1 are major mediators involved in severe inflammatory diseases against which therapeut... more TNF and IL-1 are major mediators involved in severe inflammatory diseases against which therapeutic neutralizing antibodies are developed. However, both TNF and IL-1 receptor pathways are essential for the control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and it is critical to assess the respective role of IL-1a, IL-1b, and TNF. Using gene-targeted mice we show that absence of both IL-1a and IL-1b recapitulates the uncontrolled M. tuberculosis infection with increased bacterial burden, exacerbated lung inflammation, high IFNg, reduced IL-23 p19 and rapid death seen in IL-1R1-deficient mice. However, presence of either IL-1a or IL-1b in single-deficient mice is sufficient to control acute M. tuberculosis infection, with restrained bacterial burden and lung pathology, in conditions where TNF deficient mice succumbed within 4 weeks with overwhelming infection. Systemic infection by attenuated M. bovis BCG was controlled in the absence of functional IL-1 pathway, but not in the absence of TNF. Therefore, although both IL-1a and IL-1b are required for a full host response to virulent M. tuberculosis, the presence of either IL-1a or IL-1b allows some control of acute M. tuberculosis infection, and IL-1 pathway is dispensable for controlling M. bovis BCG acute infection. This is in sharp contrast with TNF, which is essential for host response to both attenuated and virulent mycobacteria and may have implications for anti-inflammatory therapy with IL-1b neutralizing antibodies.

Current Directions in Autoimmunity, 2010

TNF is essential to control Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and cannot be replaced by other ... more TNF is essential to control Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and cannot be replaced by other proinflammatory cytokines. Overproduction of TNF may cause immunopathology, while defective TNF production results in uncontrolled infection. The critical role of TNF in the control of tuberculosis has been illustrated recently by primary and reactivation of latent infection in some patients under pharmacological anti-TNF therapy for rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn's disease. In this review, we discuss results of recent studies aimed at better understanding of molecular, cellular and kinetic aspects of TNF-mediated regulation of host-mycobacteria interactions. In particular, recent data using either mutant mice expressing solely membrane TNF or specific inhibitor sparing membrane TNF demonstrated that membrane TNF is sufficient to control acute M. tuberculosis infection. This is opening the way to selective TNF neutralization that might retain the desired anti-inflammatory effect but reduce the infectious risk.

Journal of Hepatology, 2004

Objective: Oxidants such as nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide are involved in coronary endothelial... more Objective: Oxidants such as nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide are involved in coronary endothelial dysfunction, an early event in the process of allograft coronary atherogenesis, possibly by activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and extracellular matrix proteins. We investigated ...

Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A, 2000

We describe a case of canine mycoses initially diagnosed by clinical signs and enzyme-linked immu... more We describe a case of canine mycoses initially diagnosed by clinical signs and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay anti-fungal test, and later confirmed by the isolation of Paecilomyces sp. during the postmortem examination. The fungus was isolated from lesions in the kidneys, mitral valve, abdominal aorta and vertebral discs. In this kind of process, it is important to identify the responsible agent early in order to make a study of anti-fungal susceptibility and establish effective treatment.

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry

In this work, gold nanoparticles lower than 10 nm were prepared in an aqueous medium using two ch... more In this work, gold nanoparticles lower than 10 nm were prepared in an aqueous medium using two charged silsesquioxanes, the propylpyridinium chloride and propyl-1-azonia-4-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane chloride, as stabilizer agents which revealed to be water-soluble. This stabilization method is innovative allowing thin films containing gold nanoparticles to be obtained, and it was used for the first time in the preparation of carbon paste electrodes (CPEs). The charged silsesquioxanes were characterized by liquid 13C NMR. The gold nanoparticle/silsesquioxane systems were characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) and transmission electron microscopy. In sequence, they were immobilized on silica matrix coated with aluminum oxide. The resulting solid materials designated as Au-Py/AlSi and Au-Db/AlSi were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms. The results showed that the gold nanoparticle/silsesquioxane systems are strongly adhered to...

Blood

Angiostatin is a circulating inhibitor of angiogenesis generated by proteolytic cleavage of plasm... more Angiostatin is a circulating inhibitor of angiogenesis generated by proteolytic cleavage of plasminogen. In this study we have used recombinant human and murine angiostatins (kringles 1-4) as well as native human angiostatin (prepared by elastase digestion of plasminogen [kringles 1-3] or by plasmin autocatalysis in the presence of a free sulfhydryl donor [kringles 1-4]). We report that angiostatin reduces endothelial cell number in a 4-day proliferation assay without affecting cell cycle progression into S-phase (as determined by bromodeoxyuridine labeling). This suggested that the reduction in cell number in the proliferation assay might in part be due to cytotoxicity. This was confirmed by the observation that ethidium homodimer incorporation (a measure of plasma membrane integrity) into endothelial cells was increased by angiostatin in a manner similar to that seen with tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), both of which induce apoptosis...

Summary Syncope is a common clinical problem in the emergency room. Many patients have recurrence... more Summary Syncope is a common clinical problem in the emergency room. Many patients have recurrences of syncope at follow up. Although many tests have been used for the evaluation of syncope, in some cases it is not possible to find the aetiology. In this paper we analyse the basis, utility and therapeutic implications of ATP test in the diagnosis of

Archives of Ophthalmology, 2008

A 73-year-old white woman was referred with a 3-month history of pain, epiphora, photophobia, and... more A 73-year-old white woman was referred with a 3-month history of pain, epiphora, photophobia, and decreased vision in her left eye. Her ocular history included complicated cataract extraction with anterior chamber intraocular lens in the left eye in 1987 as well as ...

PLoS Pathogens, 2014

Patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) lack generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS... more Patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) lack generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the phagocyte NADPH oxidase NOX2. CGD is an immune deficiency that leads to frequent infections with certain pathogens; this is well documented for S. aureus and A. fumigatus, but less clear for mycobacteria. We therefore performed an extensive literature search which yielded 297 cases of CGD patients with mycobacterial infections; M. bovis BCG was most commonly described (74%). The relationship between NOX2 deficiency and BCG infection however has never been studied in a mouse model. We therefore investigated BCG infection in three different mouse models of CGD: Ncf1 mutants in two different genetic backgrounds and Cybb knock-out mice. In addition, we investigated a macrophage-specific rescue (transgenic expression of Ncf1 under the control of the CD68 promoter). Wild-type mice did not develop severe disease upon BCG injection. In contrast, all three types of CGD mice were highly susceptible to BCG, as witnessed by a severe weight loss, development of hemorrhagic pneumonia, and a high mortality (,50%). Rescue of NOX2 activity in macrophages restored BCG resistance, similar as seen in wild-type mice. Granulomas from mycobacteria-infected wild-type mice generated ROS, while granulomas from CGD mice did not. Bacterial load in CGD mice was only moderately increased, suggesting that it was not crucial for the observed phenotype. CGD mice responded with massively enhanced cytokine release (TNF-a, IFN-c, IL-17 and IL-12) early after BCG infection, which might account for severity of the disease. Finally, in wild-type mice, macrophages formed clusters and restricted mycobacteria to granulomas, while macrophages and mycobacteria were diffusely distributed in lung tissue from CGD mice. Our results demonstrate that lack of the NADPH oxidase leads to a markedly increased severity of BCG infection through mechanisms including increased cytokine production and impaired granuloma formation.

Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section B-Beam Interactions With Materials and Atoms, 1999

In this contribution we investigate the thermal stability of irradiated AZ-1350J novolac-diazoqui... more In this contribution we investigate the thermal stability of irradiated AZ-1350J novolac-diazoquinone photoresist ®lms, as a function of the¯uence for 380 keV He ions in the range from 10 13 to 10 15 He cm À2 . The techniques of RBS, NRA, ERDA, FTIR and solubility tests are used to study in detail the composition and chemical structure of the ®lms before and after the irradiations, and after isothermal heat treatments at 350°C during 6 h. Our results show that 10 15 He cm À2 at 380 keV, transferring an average electronic energy density of 2.0 eV/ # A 3 to the whole volume of the photoresist, is sucient to produce an eective crosslinking, without a signi®cant damage to the polymer, and promoting a substantial improvement in the thermal stability of the photoresist at 350°C. For lower¯uences the ®lms are not stable at this temperature. Ó

Materials Letters, 2007

Several attractive types of amorphous or crystalline carbon nanostructure were obtained by a sing... more Several attractive types of amorphous or crystalline carbon nanostructure were obtained by a single catalytic process, during natural gas decomposition using different nanostructured catalysts as template. The nanostructured catalyst templates were based on transition metal nanoparticles embedded in carbon matrixes and nanoceramic supports which consist of magnesium oxide doped with ceria rare earths, prepared by the high-energy mechanical milling. The yield and the nature of the nanostructured carbon are strongly influenced by the preparation method of the template and the chemical composition of the catalysts.

Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 2008

Here we describe a single chemical route to obtain highly dispersed nanometric Ni particles embed... more Here we describe a single chemical route to obtain highly dispersed nanometric Ni particles embedded in titania/carbon matrixes (amorphous and crystalline). The synthesis of these nanocomposites is based on a polymeric precursor method. The metallic Ni nanoparticles (1-15 nm) were obtained in a single process. We also present the results of photocatalytic experiments involving a series of nanocrystalline composites based on TiO 2 /carbon with embedded Ni nanoparticles as nanocatalysts for rhodamine 6G degradation in aqueous solution and investigate the effects of the structure and properties of the nanocomposites on their photocatalytic applications. The effect of the different annealing treatments on the formation of TiO 2 nanophases (anatase and/or rutile), the size of Ni particles and the role of the residual carbon phase on the final solid are also described. r

Environmental Chemistry Letters, 2010

Al 2 O 3 , MgO, SiO 2 and ZnO-supported nickel catalysts were prepared and evaluated in the ethan... more Al 2 O 3 , MgO, SiO 2 and ZnO-supported nickel catalysts were prepared and evaluated in the ethanol steam reforming for hydrogen production. It is shown that the catalytic behavior can be influenced depending on the experimental conditions employed and chemical composition of the catalyst.

Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2011

Interactions between uncharged polymers and cationic surfactants are considered weaker than inter... more Interactions between uncharged polymers and cationic surfactants are considered weaker than interactions with the anionic analogues. This work describes the binding occurring between methylcellulose (MC) and the cationic surfactant DTAB in aqueous medium. In the absence of salt, MCÀDTAB exhibits a maximum in hydrodynamic radius, R h,slow , with the increase in the surfactant concentration. Otherwise, in presence of salt the MCÀDTAB system shows only a linear increase of R h,slow . CAC is lower than the CMC, which is taken as an evidence of binding between the cationic surfactant and neutral polymer that induces the aggregation process. Static light scattering, rheology and micro-DSC results highlight the hydrophobic MCÀDTAB association. Salt-out and the salt-in effects were observed in presence of DTAB, with a clear transition at concentration values close to the CMC, as judged from rheological and micro DSC measurements. Indeed, DTAB affects both the pattern of the solÀgel transition and the gel strength.

Applied Surface Science, 2011

A photoactive complex based on europium(III) using the amino acid phenylalanine as ligand was pre... more A photoactive complex based on europium(III) using the amino acid phenylalanine as ligand was prepared and characterized. The obtained europium(III)/phenylalanine complex presents an effective energy transfer from ligands to the rare earth center. The observed photoluminescent behavior for europium(III)/phenylalanine complex was similar to the well known europium(III)/ acetyl-␤-acetonate hydrate. New photoactive polyamide thin films were prepared using polycaprolactam as host of these complexes. The structural characterizations of the films were studied through Rutherford backscattering (RBS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies. The polyamide films doped with the amino acid and acetyl-␤-acetonate rare earth complexes maintain the original photoluminescent behavior, narrow emission bands corresponding to transitions 5 D 0 → 7 F 0-4 , which indicates that this polymer is an excellent host to these complexes.

Surface and Interface Analysis, 2013

ABSTRACT Poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) is a resistant to high temperatures and chemical... more ABSTRACT Poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) is a resistant to high temperatures and chemically stable engineering material. The application as coatings and membranes, however, is limited by its poor interaction with other materials. In this report, we describe the molecular modification of PMIA through reaction with dimsyl sodium and 2-iodine-1-ethanol. The substitution of 58% of amide hydrogen by ethanol (etOH) groups produces a material (MPMIA) able to develop regularly structured films on silicon substrate. The morphology of the films is dependent on the ionic strength of the precursory solution. MPMIA starts a degradation process by losing the etOH group. MPMIA has a better affinity with poly(p-cresolformaldehyde) than with a pristine one, increasing the range of composition in which thermal stability and miscibility are observed. Thin films of these blends have different morphologies that vary from nanometric porous to two-phase microstructured grains, according to the composition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PloS one, 2012

A safe and effective HIV vaccine is required to significantly reduce the number of people becomin... more A safe and effective HIV vaccine is required to significantly reduce the number of people becoming infected with HIV each year. In this study wild type Mycobacterium bovis BCG Pasteur and an attenuated pantothenate auxotroph strain (BCGΔpanCD) that is safe in SCID mice, have been compared as vaccine vectors for HIV-1 subtype C Gag. Genetically stable vaccines BCG[pHS400] (BCG-Gag) and BCGΔpanCD[pHS400] (BCGpan-Gag) were generated using the Pasteur strain of BCG, and a panothenate auxotroph of Pasteur respectively. Stability was achieved by the use of a codon optimised gag gene and deletion of the hsp60-lysA promoter-gene cassette from the episomal vector pCB119. In this vector expression of gag is driven by the mtrA promoter and the Gag protein is fused to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 19 kDa signal sequence. Both BCG-Gag and BCGpan-Gag primed the immune system of BALB/c mice for a boost with a recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara expressing Gag (MVA-Gag). After the boost hig...

Vaccine, Jan 9, 2009

In this study, we have compared the immunological responses associated with early pulmonary mycob... more In this study, we have compared the immunological responses associated with early pulmonary mycobacterial infection in two mouse strains, BALB/c and C57BL/6 known to exhibit distinct differences in susceptibility to infection with several pathogens. We infected mice via the intranasal route. We have demonstrated that BALB/c was less able to control mycobacterial growth in the lungs during the early phase of pulmonary infection. Our results showed that during the early phase (day 3 to week 1), BALB/c mice exhibited a delay in the production of TNF and IFN-gamma in the lungs compared to C57BL/6 mice. Levels of IL-12 and soluble TNF receptors (sTNFR) were comparable between the mouse strains. The cellular subset distribution in these mice before and after infection showed a higher increase in CD11b+ cells in the lungs of C57BL/6, compared to BALB/c as early as day 3 postinfection. At early time points, higher levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and macrophage inflammator...

International journal of environmental research and public health, 2014

To analyze changes in access to health care and its determinants in the immigrant and native-born... more To analyze changes in access to health care and its determinants in the immigrant and native-born populations in Spain, before and during the economic crisis. Comparative analysis of two iterations of the Spanish National Health Survey (2006 and 2012). Outcome variables were: unmet need and use of different healthcare levels; explanatory variables: need, predisposing and enabling factors. Multivariate models were performed (1) to compare outcome variables in each group between years, (2) to compare outcome variables between both groups within each year, and (3) to determine the factors associated with health service use for each group and year. unmet healthcare needs decreased in 2012 compared to 2006; the use of health services remained constant, with some changes worth highlighting, such as the decline in general practitioner visits among autochthons and a narrowed gap in specialist visits between the two populations. The factors associated with health service use in 2006 remained...

Immunity, Inflammation and Disease, 2013

TNF and IL-1 are major mediators involved in severe inflammatory diseases against which therapeut... more TNF and IL-1 are major mediators involved in severe inflammatory diseases against which therapeutic neutralizing antibodies are developed. However, both TNF and IL-1 receptor pathways are essential for the control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and it is critical to assess the respective role of IL-1a, IL-1b, and TNF. Using gene-targeted mice we show that absence of both IL-1a and IL-1b recapitulates the uncontrolled M. tuberculosis infection with increased bacterial burden, exacerbated lung inflammation, high IFNg, reduced IL-23 p19 and rapid death seen in IL-1R1-deficient mice. However, presence of either IL-1a or IL-1b in single-deficient mice is sufficient to control acute M. tuberculosis infection, with restrained bacterial burden and lung pathology, in conditions where TNF deficient mice succumbed within 4 weeks with overwhelming infection. Systemic infection by attenuated M. bovis BCG was controlled in the absence of functional IL-1 pathway, but not in the absence of TNF. Therefore, although both IL-1a and IL-1b are required for a full host response to virulent M. tuberculosis, the presence of either IL-1a or IL-1b allows some control of acute M. tuberculosis infection, and IL-1 pathway is dispensable for controlling M. bovis BCG acute infection. This is in sharp contrast with TNF, which is essential for host response to both attenuated and virulent mycobacteria and may have implications for anti-inflammatory therapy with IL-1b neutralizing antibodies.

Current Directions in Autoimmunity, 2010

TNF is essential to control Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and cannot be replaced by other ... more TNF is essential to control Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and cannot be replaced by other proinflammatory cytokines. Overproduction of TNF may cause immunopathology, while defective TNF production results in uncontrolled infection. The critical role of TNF in the control of tuberculosis has been illustrated recently by primary and reactivation of latent infection in some patients under pharmacological anti-TNF therapy for rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn's disease. In this review, we discuss results of recent studies aimed at better understanding of molecular, cellular and kinetic aspects of TNF-mediated regulation of host-mycobacteria interactions. In particular, recent data using either mutant mice expressing solely membrane TNF or specific inhibitor sparing membrane TNF demonstrated that membrane TNF is sufficient to control acute M. tuberculosis infection. This is opening the way to selective TNF neutralization that might retain the desired anti-inflammatory effect but reduce the infectious risk.

Journal of Hepatology, 2004

Objective: Oxidants such as nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide are involved in coronary endothelial... more Objective: Oxidants such as nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide are involved in coronary endothelial dysfunction, an early event in the process of allograft coronary atherogenesis, possibly by activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and extracellular matrix proteins. We investigated ...

Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A, 2000

We describe a case of canine mycoses initially diagnosed by clinical signs and enzyme-linked immu... more We describe a case of canine mycoses initially diagnosed by clinical signs and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay anti-fungal test, and later confirmed by the isolation of Paecilomyces sp. during the postmortem examination. The fungus was isolated from lesions in the kidneys, mitral valve, abdominal aorta and vertebral discs. In this kind of process, it is important to identify the responsible agent early in order to make a study of anti-fungal susceptibility and establish effective treatment.