A commercial macrocellular polyurethane foam was used as template to fabricate macro/mesoporous s... more A commercial macrocellular polyurethane foam was used as template to fabricate macro/mesoporous silica and carbon monoliths. These materials have a cellular structure which is a faithful replica of that of the polymeric foam. In addition, they have a high surface area and a large porosity made up of accessible mesopores. The synthesis of silica monoliths was carried out by impregnating
Severe injury and infection are associated with autonomic dysfunction. Diminished heart rate vari... more Severe injury and infection are associated with autonomic dysfunction. Diminished heart rate variability (HRV) is also observed as a component of autonomic dysfunction and is induced by endotoxin administration to healthy subjects. It is established that low-dose glucocorticoid administration diminishes the systemic inflammatory manifestations of endotoxinemia but the influence of this anti-inflammatory intervention on overall autonomic dysfunction and HRV responses to endotoxin is unknown. This study was designed to assess the influence of a low-dose hydrocortisone infusion upon endotoxin-elicited systemic inflammatory responses including phenotypic features, cytokine production, and parameters of HRV. Of 19 subjects studied, nine received a continuous infusion of hydrocortisone (3 microg/kg/min continuously over 6 h) prior to intravenous administration of Escherichia coli endotoxin (2 ng/kg, CC-RE, Lot #2) while 10 healthy subjects received only the endotoxin after a 6-h period of saline control infusion. Serial determinations of vital signs, heart rate variability assessments, and cytokine levels were obtained over the subsequent 24 h. Prior cortisol infusion diminished the peak TNF-alpha (P < 0.01) and IL-6 (P < 0.0001) responses after endotoxin challenge, as compared to saline infusion controls and diminished the peak core temperature response to endotoxin (P < 0.01). In contrast to the influence of cortisol on the above parameters of systemic inflammation, the significant endotoxin-induced decreases in HRV time and frequency domains were not influenced by prior hydrocortisone treatment. Hence, alterations in autonomic dysfunction occur despite hydrocortisone attenuation of other traditional systemic manifestations of endotoxinemia. The maintenance or restoration of autonomic balance is not influenced by glucocorticoid administration.
Mesoporous carbon materials formed by nanosized particles have been synthesized by means of a nan... more Mesoporous carbon materials formed by nanosized particles have been synthesized by means of a nanocasting technique based on the use of mesostructured silica materials as templates. We found that the modification of the chemical characteristics of the surfactant employed allows mesostructured silica materials with particle sizes <100nm to be synthesised. The mesoporous carbons obtained from these silica materials retain the
The purpose of this clinical report was to present a case of a rare Tessier 2/12 craniofacial cle... more The purpose of this clinical report was to present a case of a rare Tessier 2/12 craniofacial cleft, which was treated by using mandibular distractors in a reverse manner for the reapproximation of the craniofacial skeleton allowing for closure of the soft tissue component and palate of this cleft. The changes in the bony portions of the cleft were accomplished without osteotomies taking advantage of the mobility of the facial bones involving both normal bony sutures and the cleft bone. The bone movement allowed for easier adhesion of the midline lower facial soft tissue during the first year of life. The outcomes were both functionally and aesthetically satisfactory. Although the ability of distractor devices to regenerate bone is well documented, they can also accomplish the same effect in a reverse manner. This new use of distraction devices in a reverse manner to contract the craniofacial skeleton without osteotomies to the author's knowledge has not been previously reported and adds a valuable tool to closing large facial clefts. However, considering the severity and complexity of the deformities, long-term follow-up will be necessary to assess the benefits of the surgical interventions and the patient's quality of life.
Forty-six organic olive orchards under different soil management systems were evaluated in the pr... more Forty-six organic olive orchards under different soil management systems were evaluated in the province of Córdoba (southern Spain) to assess the state of their soil properties and the degree of degradation of their topsoil, and the possibilities for monitoring any soil degradation risk. Our study indicated that 55% of the olive farms sampled (OF) presented a low soil degradation, in
... This assortment of refugees from the sharif, or respectable, world gave a completely ironic s... more ... This assortment of refugees from the sharif, or respectable, world gave a completely ironic slant to the notion of respectability. The problem, according to Saira Jan, a plump woman in her early forties, who recounted her escape from a violent, alcoholic husband at length and ...
... Ati'lio Lopez, Reinaldo Gomes Silva, the wom... more ... Ati'lio Lopez, Reinaldo Gomes Silva, the women of Jardim Miriam, especially Palmira Santos Abrantes and Iraci Jesus Eugenio ... Patricia Flanagan, Susana Wappenstein, Julia Sweig, Roger Frahm, and Pa-tricia Elsea also provided invaluable research assistance at earlier ...
A commercial macrocellular polyurethane foam was used as template to fabricate macro/mesoporous s... more A commercial macrocellular polyurethane foam was used as template to fabricate macro/mesoporous silica and carbon monoliths. These materials have a cellular structure which is a faithful replica of that of the polymeric foam. In addition, they have a high surface area and a large porosity made up of accessible mesopores. The synthesis of silica monoliths was carried out by impregnating
Severe injury and infection are associated with autonomic dysfunction. Diminished heart rate vari... more Severe injury and infection are associated with autonomic dysfunction. Diminished heart rate variability (HRV) is also observed as a component of autonomic dysfunction and is induced by endotoxin administration to healthy subjects. It is established that low-dose glucocorticoid administration diminishes the systemic inflammatory manifestations of endotoxinemia but the influence of this anti-inflammatory intervention on overall autonomic dysfunction and HRV responses to endotoxin is unknown. This study was designed to assess the influence of a low-dose hydrocortisone infusion upon endotoxin-elicited systemic inflammatory responses including phenotypic features, cytokine production, and parameters of HRV. Of 19 subjects studied, nine received a continuous infusion of hydrocortisone (3 microg/kg/min continuously over 6 h) prior to intravenous administration of Escherichia coli endotoxin (2 ng/kg, CC-RE, Lot #2) while 10 healthy subjects received only the endotoxin after a 6-h period of saline control infusion. Serial determinations of vital signs, heart rate variability assessments, and cytokine levels were obtained over the subsequent 24 h. Prior cortisol infusion diminished the peak TNF-alpha (P < 0.01) and IL-6 (P < 0.0001) responses after endotoxin challenge, as compared to saline infusion controls and diminished the peak core temperature response to endotoxin (P < 0.01). In contrast to the influence of cortisol on the above parameters of systemic inflammation, the significant endotoxin-induced decreases in HRV time and frequency domains were not influenced by prior hydrocortisone treatment. Hence, alterations in autonomic dysfunction occur despite hydrocortisone attenuation of other traditional systemic manifestations of endotoxinemia. The maintenance or restoration of autonomic balance is not influenced by glucocorticoid administration.
Mesoporous carbon materials formed by nanosized particles have been synthesized by means of a nan... more Mesoporous carbon materials formed by nanosized particles have been synthesized by means of a nanocasting technique based on the use of mesostructured silica materials as templates. We found that the modification of the chemical characteristics of the surfactant employed allows mesostructured silica materials with particle sizes <100nm to be synthesised. The mesoporous carbons obtained from these silica materials retain the
The purpose of this clinical report was to present a case of a rare Tessier 2/12 craniofacial cle... more The purpose of this clinical report was to present a case of a rare Tessier 2/12 craniofacial cleft, which was treated by using mandibular distractors in a reverse manner for the reapproximation of the craniofacial skeleton allowing for closure of the soft tissue component and palate of this cleft. The changes in the bony portions of the cleft were accomplished without osteotomies taking advantage of the mobility of the facial bones involving both normal bony sutures and the cleft bone. The bone movement allowed for easier adhesion of the midline lower facial soft tissue during the first year of life. The outcomes were both functionally and aesthetically satisfactory. Although the ability of distractor devices to regenerate bone is well documented, they can also accomplish the same effect in a reverse manner. This new use of distraction devices in a reverse manner to contract the craniofacial skeleton without osteotomies to the author's knowledge has not been previously reported and adds a valuable tool to closing large facial clefts. However, considering the severity and complexity of the deformities, long-term follow-up will be necessary to assess the benefits of the surgical interventions and the patient's quality of life.
Forty-six organic olive orchards under different soil management systems were evaluated in the pr... more Forty-six organic olive orchards under different soil management systems were evaluated in the province of Córdoba (southern Spain) to assess the state of their soil properties and the degree of degradation of their topsoil, and the possibilities for monitoring any soil degradation risk. Our study indicated that 55% of the olive farms sampled (OF) presented a low soil degradation, in
... This assortment of refugees from the sharif, or respectable, world gave a completely ironic s... more ... This assortment of refugees from the sharif, or respectable, world gave a completely ironic slant to the notion of respectability. The problem, according to Saira Jan, a plump woman in her early forties, who recounted her escape from a violent, alcoholic husband at length and ...
... Ati'lio Lopez, Reinaldo Gomes Silva, the wom... more ... Ati'lio Lopez, Reinaldo Gomes Silva, the women of Jardim Miriam, especially Palmira Santos Abrantes and Iraci Jesus Eugenio ... Patricia Flanagan, Susana Wappenstein, Julia Sweig, Roger Frahm, and Pa-tricia Elsea also provided invaluable research assistance at earlier ...
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Papers by Sonia Alvarez