Marta Lopez

We report the first case of a pregnancy in a renal transplant recipient with HIV-infection. She underwent renal transplantation in 2005 and became pregnant in 2009. The patient underwent vaginal delivery and a healthy full-term, female baby was born. Five years after delivery, both mother and child are doing well. The management of these three concurrent medical conditions (renal transplantation, HIV infection and pregnancy) was extremely challenging. Women with HIV-infection who have undergone renal transplantation should be accurately informed of the potential health risks for them and their offspring. Multidisciplinary teams are mandatory in order to properly manage these patients.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the risk of intrauterine growth restriction in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women and to describe the associated risk factors. A cohort study was performed among HIV-infected women who delivered in a single tertiary centre in Barcelona, Spain, from January 2006 to December 2011. Consecutive singleton pregnancies delivered beyond 22 weeks of pregnancy were included. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) was defined as a birth weight below the 10th customised centile for gestational age and IUGR babies were compared to non-IUGR newborns. Intrauterine Doppler findings were described among IUGR foetuses. Baseline characteristics, HIV infection data and perinatal outcome were compared between groups. The results were adjusted for potential confounders. A total of 156 singleton pregnancies were included. IUGR occurred in 23.4 % of cases (38/156). In two-thirds of the cases detected before birth, Doppler abnormalities compatible with placental insufficiency were observed. IUGR pregnancies presented a worse perinatal outcome, mainly due to a higher risk of iatrogenic preterm delivery [adjusted odds ratio 6.9, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.4-33.5]. IUGR foetuses also had a higher risk of emergent Caesarean section and neonatal intensive care unit admission. No cases of intrauterine foetal death occurred. A high rate of IUGR was observed among HIV pregnancies, and it was associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, mainly iatrogenic preterm and very preterm birth due to placental insufficiency. Our results support that ultrasound detection and follow-up of IUGR foetuses should be part of routine antenatal care in this high-risk population to improve antenatal management.

This article describes the influence of microstructure on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of isovalent- donor- and acceptor-modified lead lanthanum zirconium titanate (PLZT) ceramics. The ceramic compositions, with formula: [Pb0.954La0.016Ba0.01Sr0.02][Zr0.525Ti0.475]0.981−(m/2)Nb0.012ZnmO3 where m  = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 mol% Zn, were synthesized via a solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction studies are supported by tolerance factor and electronegativity difference measurements. Scanning electron microscopy studies reveal grain growth enhancement with increase of Zn concentration. As the Zn concentration increased from 0 to 0.8 mol%, the room-temperature dielectric constant increased while the Curie temperature decreased continuously. An increase in the Zn content had the most significant effect on the piezoelectric properties. The optimum piezoelectric properties were observed for 1 mol% Zn composition.

ABSTRACT [Pb0.961La0.012Ba0.015Sr0.012][Zr0.53Ti0.47]0.967-(h/2)Nb0.02Zn0.01MnhO3 (PLBSZZMNT) nano-ceramics where h=0, 0.5. 1 and 1.5mol% fabricated through solid state reaction method has been investigated for phase formation, microstructure, density, dielectric and piezoelectric properties. X-ray diffraction studies indicated that all the samples exhibited a single-phase perovskite tetragonal structure which had strongly intensified due to the acceptor Mn content increment in the series. Our investigation with reference to isovalent (Ba2+ and Sr2+) on the A-site, pentavalent donor (Nb5+) and acceptor (Zn2+ and Mn4+) dopants on the B-site in PLZT perovskite with the stoichiometric compositional formulation tailored for dielectric and piezoelectric properties has been clearly explained. As Mn concentration increased, the grain growth enhanced, and the inter-diffusion between multiple ions promoted densification in the PLBSZZMNT nano-ceramics. TEM studies revealed an average particle size ranging from 20 to 72nm. Dielectric characterization revealed that the εRT enhanced till 1.5mol% Mn (2946) while the Curie temperature and dielectric loss at room temperature (Tc and TanδRT) decreased, respectively. Mn doping in PLBSZZNT induced the piezoelectric parameters (kp=0.567) and (d33=486 pC/N) till 1.5mol% Mn. Thus, 1.5mol% Mn modified PLBSZZNT exhibits optimum dielectric and piezoelectric properties, which are suitable for possible sensor and actuator applications.

... nanoceramic composites by high-energy mechanical activation technique Ramam Koduri • Marta Lopez • Chandramouli Kemburu ... (2009) doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2009.08.082 13. M. Venet, D. Garcia, JA Eiras, JC M'peko, H. Amorin, Phys. Stat. Sol. (b) 238, 198–203 (2003) 14. ...

This investigation highlights the influence of isovalent Sr2+ on acceptor Fe3+ modified PLZT for microstructure and its effect on dielectric and piezoelectric properties [Pb0.985−yLa0.015Sry][(Zr0.538Ti0.462)0.985Fe0.015]O3 where y = 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mol% nanocrystalline solid solutions near morphotrophic phase boundary were synthesized by solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that Sr increment resulted in strong tetragonality. Grain size and apparent density

Dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of xPb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–(1-x)(Pb0.988 La0.012)(Zr0.535Ti0.465)O3 ceramic system synthesized through columbite precursor method are investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns of ceramics indicated pseudocubic phase formation with pyrochlore phase. Grain growth (4.47 μ m) and apparent density (7.68 gm/cm3) enhanced remarkably in 0.8PMN-0.2PLZT composition, respectively. Increasing PMN content remarkably increased both room temperature dielectric permittivity (εRT = 2316) and dielectric maximum (εTc = 24747) in 0.6PMN-0.4PLZT composition, respectively. PMN substitution in PLZT system enhanced the ferroelectric remanent (Pr = 28.4 μ C/cm2) and spontaneous (P s = 31.2 μ C/cm2) polarization while coercive field (Ec) continuously decreased in xPMN-(1-x)PLZT system. PMN modification in PLZT system influenced piezoelectric properties (d33, kp and kt) throughout the PMN-PLZT system.

To assess the association between HIV infection and both spontaneous and iatrogenic preterm delivery (PTD), and to explore the impact of HAART on both entities. A matched retrospective cohort study was carried out on 517 HIV-infected pregnant women who consecutively attended a university referral hospital between 1986 and 2010. Two controls were assigned for each case. They were matched by ethnicity, smoking, maternal age and educational level. Exclusion criteria were multiple pregnancy and active injection drug use (IDU). PTD was defined as delivery less than 37.0 weeks. Spontaneous PTD included preterm premature rupture of membranes. Iatrogenic delivery was considered if medically indicated. Factors associated with PTD among HIV-infected women were analyzed by logistic regression. A total of 1557 pregnant women were analyzed (519 HIV-infected and 1038 noninfected). The incidence of PTD was 19.7% in HIV-infected women and 8.5% in controls [odds ratio (OR) 2.6; 95% CI 1.9-3.6]. There was a significantly higher incidence of both spontaneous [adjusted OR (AOR) 2.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-3.0] and iatrogenic prematurity (AOR 3.2; 95% CI 1.8-5.7). Iatrogenic PTD was significantly associated with the use of HAART during the second half of pregnancy, whereas spontaneous PTD was not related to HAART. There is a significant association of HIV infection with PTD, both spontaneous and iatrogenic PTD. HAART use was predominantly associated with iatrogenic PTD.