We investigated whether detection of cytokeratin-positive (CK؉) cells in the peripheral blood (PB) of breast cancer patients before chemotherapy could be a prognostic factor. Blood from a total of 92 breast cancer patients was evaluated for the presence of CK؉ cells. Blood samples were collected before chemotherapy. Patients entered in the study included: neoadjuvant (n ‫؍‬ 25), adjuvant (n ‫؍‬ 42) and metastatic (n ‫؍‬ 25). Blood samples (10 ml) were centrifuged using a double density-gradient to recovering the mononuclear cell (MNC) and granulocyte cell (GC) fractions. Subsequently, positive immunomagnetic cell separation was carried out to isolating CK؉ cells. The enriched cell fraction was cytocentrifuged and then immunocytochemically labeled using an anti-cytokeratin antibody. Our results indicated that breast tumor cells sediment with both MNC and GC fractions. We showed that using the method we present, the detection of CK؉ cells in PB before starting the chemotherapy in breast cancer patients was significantly correlated with both progression-free survival (p ‫؍‬ 0.058) and overall survival (p ‫؍‬ 0.003). In conclusion, the present study suggests that detection of CK؉ cells in PB before chemotherapy might identify breast cancer patients with poor prognosis. Breast cancers have been shown to shed tumor cells into the circulation at the earliest stages of primary tumor development. It is accepted that it is the early hematogenous dissemination of the tumor that decides the patient's fate. Fehm et al. 1 have reported that circulating epithelial cells in breast cancer patients are malignant. The potential of circulating tumor cells to form metastases in vivo has been reported by Pretlow et al. 2 They showed the capacity to induce metastases in nude mice from tumor cells taken directly from the peripheral blood (PB) of patients. Thus, the early detection of circulating tumor cells may have important therapeutic and prognostic implications. It could be an independent prognostic factor that could identify the patients who are most likely to benefit from adjuvant therapy. Immunological and molecular methods have been used for detecting circulating tumor cells, 3 but it has not been possible to standardize a method internationally. This could explain the contradictory results obtained by different groups.We investigated whether detection of cytokeratin-positive (CKϩ) cells in PB of breast cancer patients before chemotherapy could be a prognostic factor. Cytokeratin is a valuable marker for breast tumor cell in PB. Blood from a total of 92 breast cancer patients was evaluated for the presence of CKϩ cells. Blood samples were collected before chemotherapy just when the patients were included in this study. Patients entered in the study included: neoadjuvant (n ϭ 25), adjuvant (n ϭ 42) and metastatic (n ϭ 25). Correlation of CKϩ cells with patient characteristics and with well established prognostic parameters were carried out. We have used an immunomagnetic separation procedure for the detection of circulating tumo...

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Although ultrafiltration membranes have been used for the separation of macromolecules and colloids from solutions, this process has a limited application in the removal of dyes present in coloured discharges of textile industry, as these typically have much lower molecular weight than the molecular cut-off of the membranes (MWCO). In the present work, we have evaluated the behaviour of a polysulfone ultrafiltration membrane in the removal of different dyes from aqueous solutions (Congo red, methyl green and amaranth). Different variables (tangential flow rate, concentration of dye and pH of the feed) were studied to determine their influence on the separation processes (permeate flux and rejection coefficient). The results show that Congo red is easily removed with a GR60PP membrane (MWCO = 25 kDa), whereas methyl green and amaranth show rejection coefficient values of approximately 25.78% and 13.85%, respectively, at neutral pH. Also, an interesting effect is observed for the rejection coefficient for methyl green at different pH values. In addition, several treatments were performed to the membrane so as to modify its surface, trying to improve the values obtained for permeate flux and rejection rate.

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Uso de las redes sociales por los alumnos universitarios de educación: un estudio de caso de la península ibérica TENDENCIAS PEDAGÓGICAS Nº28 2016 33 USO DE LAS REDES SOCIALES POR LOS ALUMNOS RESUMENLa investigación que aquí se presenta se desarrolló durante el segundo semestre del curso académico 2014/2015, y versa sobre el uso del software social por parte de los estudiantes del Grado de Educación Primaria pertenecientes a dos instituciones de Educación Superior: Universidad de Jaén (España) y la Escuela Superior de Educación del Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo (Portugal). Los objetivos se centran en conocer qué herramientas de software social utilizan preferentemente el alumnado, cuáles son sus percepciones sobre estas herramientas para sus posibilidades académicas y si hay diferencias en función de la universidad de procedencia. Se empleó como instrumento de recogida de datos un cuestionario. Se concluye que la red social más conocida y utilizada es Facebook. El hallazgo principal reside en las diferencias encontradas entre las dos muestras estudiadas en lo concerniente a su utilización. PALABRAS CLAVERedes sociales -Universidad -tecnologías de la información y la comunicación -estudiantes -formación inicial. ABSTRACTThe research presented here was developed during the second semester of the academic year 2014/2015, and relates to the use of social software by students of the Degree in Primary Education from two higher education institutions: University of Jaén (Spain) and the School of Education at the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo (Portugal). The objectives are to know what social software tools are used mainly by the students, what are their perceptions about these tools about their academic potential and whether there are differences depending on the university. It was used as data collection instrument a questionnaire. We conclude that the best known and used social network is Facebook. The main finding lies in the differences between the two samples studied with regard to their use. KEYWORDSSocial networks -University -information and communications technologystudents -initial training.

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La mejora de la calidad del sistema educativo y del éxito escolar en las enseñanzas básicas es un tema ampliamente abordado en la investigación educativa. Sin embargo, apenas se trata el papel de la inspección educativa. Es preciso analizar la contribución de la acción inspectora como garante de la calidad y equidad del sistema educativo. Por ello, este trabajo tiene como objetivo construir y validar una escala para conocer y analizar la opinión de los inspectores de educación andaluces sobre las actuaciones que desarrollan para mejorar los resultados de los logros escolares. Para ello, se diseña una escala de 27 ítems que es aplicada a 118 miembros de los 8 servicios provinciales que componen el servicio de inspección de la comunidad autónoma. La validación del contenido se realiza mediante juicio de expertos, y la validación de constructo agrupa los ítems en 4 dimensiones. Se verifica la fiabilidad mediante el alfa de Cronbach ( .890). El análisis de datos permite comprobar que la escala es un instrumento válido y fiable que permite conocer y analizar la percepción de los miembros del servicio de inspección educativa sobre la labor, centrada en la mejora de los logros escolares del alumnado de las enseñanzas obligatorias.