Search

OBJECTIVE:Breast cancer survivors (BCS) are often characterized by decreased pressure pain thresholds (PPT), range of motion (ROM) and strength in and around the shoulder affected by the treatment. This intra-rater reliability study was to establish the relative and absolute reliability of PPT's, active ROM and maximal isokinetic muscle strength (MIMS) of the affected shoulder in BCS with persistent pain after treatment. METHODS:Twenty-one BCS participated in the study. The PPTs of 17 locations and pain intensity were assessed using a pressure algometer and a numeric rating scale. The ROM was measured using a universal goniometer and MIMS was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. Relative reliability was estimated using intra class correlation coefficient (ICC), and absolute reliability using standard error of measurement (SEM). Minimum detectable change (MDC) was calculated from SEM. RESULTS:The ICCs for PPTs ranged from 0.88-0.97, with SEM values ranging from 12.0 to 28.2 kPa and MDC ranging from 33.2 to 78.2 kPa. The ICCs for ROM ranged from 0.66-0.97, with SEM values ranging from 3.0 to 7.5° and MDC ranging from 8.4 to 20.8°. Finally, ICCs for MIMS ranged from 0.62-0.92, with SEM values ranging from 0.03 to 0.07 Nm/Kg FFM and MDC ranging from 0.09 to 0.19 Nm/kg FFM. CONCLUSION:The results of this study indicate that PPTs, ROM and MIMS can be measured reliably on the affected shoulder in BCS with pain after treatment. This offer the possibility of using these measures to assess the effectiveness of interventions in this population.

Biofilm formation by the pathobiont Haemophilus influenzae is associated with human nasopharynx colonization, otitis media in children, and chronic respiratory infections in adults suffering from chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). β-lactam and quinolone antibiotics are commonly used to treat these infections. However, considering the resistance of biofilm-resident bacteria to antibiotic-mediated killing, the use of antibiotics may be insufficient and require being replaced or complemented with novel strategies. Moreover, unlike the standard minimal inhibitory concentration assay used to assess antibacterial activity against planktonic cells, standardization of methods to evaluate anti-biofilm drug activity is limited. In this work, we detail a panel of protocols for systematic analysis of drug antimicrobial effect on bacterial biofilms, customized to evaluate drug effects against H. influenzae biofilms. Testing of two cinnamaldehyde analogs, (E)-trans-2-nonenal and (E)-3-decen-2-one, demonstrated their effectiveness in both H. influenzae inhibition of biofilm formation and eradication or preformed biofilms. Assay complementarity allowed quantifying the dynamics and extent of the inhibitory effects, also observed for ampicillin resistant clinical strains forming biofilms refractory to this antibiotic. Moreover, cinnamaldehyde analog encapsulation into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymeric nanoparticles allowed drug vehiculization while maintaining efficacy. Overall, we demonstrate the usefulness of cinnamaldehyde analogs against H. influenzae biofilms, present a test panel that can be easily adapted to a wide range of pathogens and drugs, and highlight the benefits of drug nanoencapsulation towards safe controlled release.

Abstract Background Longitudinal data on key cancer outcomes for clinical research, such as response to treatment and disease progression, are not captured in standard cancer registry reporting. Manual extraction of such outcomes from unstructured electronic health records is a slow, resource-intensive process. Natural language processing (NLP) methods can accelerate outcome annotation, but they require substantial labeled data. Transfer learning based on language modeling, particularly using the Transformer architecture, has achieved improvements in NLP performance. However, there has been no systematic evaluation of NLP model training strategies on the extraction of cancer outcomes from unstructured text. Results We evaluated the performance of nine NLP models at the two tasks of identifying cancer response and cancer progression within imaging reports at a single academic center among patients with non-small cell lung cancer. We trained the classification models under different conditions, including training sample size, classification architecture, and language model pre-training. The training involved a labeled dataset of 14,218 imaging reports for 1112 patients with lung cancer. A subset of models was based on a pre-trained language model, DFCI-ImagingBERT, created by further pre-training a BERT-based model using an unlabeled dataset of 662,579 reports from 27,483 patients with cancer from our center. A classifier based on our DFCI-ImagingBERT, trained on more than 200 patients, achieved the best results in most experiments; however, these results were marginally better than simpler “bag of words” or convolutional neural network models. Conclusion When developing AI models to extract outcomes from imaging reports for clinical cancer research, if computational resources are plentiful but labeled training data are limited, large language models can be used for zero- or few-shot learning to achieve reasonable performance. When computational resources are more limited but labeled training data are readily available, even simple machine learning architectures can achieve good performance for such tasks.

Extensive research on transition metal perovskite oxides as electrodes in solid oxide cells (SOC) has highlighted the potential ability of Fe-based perovskite oxides to catalyze oxygen reduction/evolution reactions (ORR/OER). The layered perovskite-type system YSr2Cu2FeO7+δ has been reported to possess attractive electrocatalytic properties. This work applies density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate oxygen ion diffusion in the YSr2Cu2FeO7+δ system. For δ = 0.5, it is found that in the most stable configuration, the oxygen vacancies in the FeO1+δ plane are arranged to form Fe ions in tetrahedral, square pyramid, and octahedral coordination. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations for YSr2Cu2FeO7.5 (δ = 0.5) yield an oxygen ion diffusion coefficient of 1.28 × 10−7 cm2/s at 500 °C (Ea = 0.37 eV). Complementary results for YSr2Cu2FeO7.2 (δ = 0.2) and YSr2Cu2FeO7.75 (δ = 0.75) indicate that the oxygen diffusion occurs in the FeO1+δ plane, and depends on the oxygen vacancies distribution around the Fe centers.

Abstract Objective Greater self‐monitoring of caloric intake and weight has been associated with success at both initial weight loss and long‐term maintenance. Given the existence of wide variability in weight loss outcomes and the key role of self‐monitoring within behavioral weight management interventions, this study examined individual variability in associations between self‐monitoring and weight change and whether demographic factors could predict who may best benefit from self‐monitoring. Methods Participants were 72 adults with overweight or obesity (mean ± SD, age = 50.6 ± 10.3; body mass index = 31.2 ± 4.5 kg/m2; 71%Female; 83%White) enrolled in a 12‐week weight loss program followed by a 40‐week observational maintenance period. Participants were encouraged to self‐monitor caloric intake and weight daily and to report these data via a study website each week. Multilevel mixed models were used to estimate week‐to‐week associations between self‐monitoring and weight change, by individual and linear regressions and ANOVAs were used to explore demographic differences in these associations. Results Most participants (68%) demonstrated statistically significant negative associations between self‐monitoring of either caloric intake or weight and weight change. Of these, 76% benefited from self‐monitoring both caloric intake and weight, 18% from self‐monitoring caloric intake only, and 6% from self‐weighing only. The magnitude of associations between self‐monitoring and weight change did not significantly differ by age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, or income, all ps > 0.05. Conclusions Differences in the effectiveness of self‐monitoring for weight loss were not observed by demographic characteristics. Future research should examine if other factors may predict the effectiveness of self‐monitoring.

AbstractNanoemulsions (NE) are lipid nanocarriers that can efficiently load hydrophobic active compounds, like palmitoyl-L-carnitine (pC), used here as model molecule. The use of design of experiments (DoE) approach is a useful tool to develop NEs with optimized properties, requiring less experiments compared to trial-and-error approach. In this work, NE were prepared by the solvent injection technique and DoE using a two-level fractional factorial design (FFD) as model was implemented for designing pC-loaded NE. NEs were fully characterized by a combination of techniques, studying its stability, scalability, pC entrapment and loading capacity and biodistribution, which was studied ex-vivo after injection of fluorescent NEs in mice. We selected the optimal composition for NE, named pC-NEU, after analysis of four variables using DoE. pC-NEU incorporated pC in a very efficient manner, with high entrapment efficiency (EE) and loading capacity. pC-NEU did not change its initial colloidal properties stored at 4 °C in water during 120 days, nor in buffers with different pH values (5.3 and 7.4) during 30 days. Moreover, the scalability process did not affect NE properties and stability profile. Finally, biodistribution study showed that pC-NEU formulation was predominantly concentrated in the liver, with minimal accumulation in spleen, stomach, and kidneys.

Introduction Almost nine months after the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, millions of people have been affected physically, economically and mainly mentally. Those who have stayed in their homeland, and the ones that have chosen to emigrate to a safer place. Objectives The objective of this article is to assess the importance of social stressors in the onset of a brief psychotic episode, even in the absence of substance abuse or previous illnesses. Methods The case of a 45-year-old woman is described, known by the Pediatric Emergency Service, for being the tutor of a patient who suffered from anxiety attacks, having emigrated without her parents from Ukraine together with her 5 brothers. The psychotic episode begins when our patient gets notified that she must abandon the custody of the girl, because she will have to go to Turkey with her legal guardians. The family explains the behavioral changes that the patient made and how the clinical picture worsened. Results She was admitted at the Hospital’s Psychiatry Service and antipsychotics treatment started. After 5 days, the episode had completely been solved. Conclusions In conclusion, we highlight the importance of social problems in the development of a psychiatric pathology and the necessary elements to prevent it: family support network, fast and efficient care services and availability of hospital and pharmaceutical resources. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Objetivo: Determinar los cambios en el espesor coroideo subfoveal, 500 ï­m nasal y temporal a la fóvea, medidos por EDI-OCT previo y 1 semana después en pacientes con tratamiento de hemodiálisis por primera vez. Método: Se evaluaron 22 ojos de 12 pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica candidatos a tratamiento con hemodiálisis de primera vez, sin cirugías ni procedimientos oftalmológicos en los 6 meses previos. Se realizaron mediciones del espesor coroideo subfoveal, 500 um nasal y temporal por EDI-OCT, antes y 1 semana posterior al tratamiento con hemodiálisis, recopilando datos sociodemográficos, de agudeza visual y de presión intraocular. Los resultados fueron evaluados y analizados por medio de la prueba U de Mann-Whitney- Wilcoxon. Resultados: Los espesores coroideos promedio por EDI-OCT antes de la hemodiálisis en las localizaciones subfoveal, 500 ï­m temporal y nasal fueron 99.40 ± 30.80, 96.77 ± 26.78 y 94.00 ± 31.03 ï­m, respectivamente. Una semana después de la hemodiálisis fueron 89.63 ± 18.96 (p = 0.055), 83.18 ± 18.00 (p < 0.001) y 84.27 ± 27.62 um (p = 0.002), respectivamente. La presión intraocular no tuvo cambios, mostrando valores previos al tratamiento de hemodiálisis y 1 semana después de 13.09 ± 1.87 y 12.77 ± 1.79 mmHg (p = 0.379), respectivamente. Conclusiones: Existe una disminución del grosor coroideo a 500 um temporal y 500 ï­m nasal a la fóvea tras 1 semana de tratamiento en pacientes hemodiálizados.

Objetivo: Reportar el caso de un paciente de 26 años que acudió por presentar baja visual súbita unilateral, asociada a fotofobia intensa y cefalea, como primera manifestación de metástasis coroideas secundarias a adenocarcinoma de páncreas. Caso clínico: Mediante un trabajo multidisciplinario, estudios auxiliares tanto oftalmológicos como oncológicos y la realización de una biopsia hepática se llegó al diagnóstico de metástasis sistémicas y coroideas secundarias a adenocarcinoma de páncreas. Conclusiones: Este es el primer caso documentado en México de un paciente que presenta como primera manifestación baja visual unilateral secundaria a metástasis coroideas por adenocarcinoma de páncreas.

The purpose of this study was to design, for the first time, a co-loaded liposomal formulation (CLL) for treatment of glaucoma including timolol maleate (TM) in the lipid bilayer and acetazolamide (Acz)-(2-hydroxy)propyl β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) complexes (AczHP) solubilized in the aqueous core of liposomes. Formulations with TM (TM-L) and AczHP (AczHP-L), separately, were also prepared and characterized. A preliminary study comprising the Acz/HPβCD complexes and their interaction with cholesterol (a component of the lipid bilayer) was realized. Then, a screening study on formulation factors affecting the quality of the product was carried out following the design of the experiment methodology. In addition, in vitro release and permeation studies and in vivo lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) studies were performed. The results of the inclusion complexation behavior, characterization, and binding ability of Acz with HPβCD showed that HPβCD could enhance the water solubility of Acz despite the weak binding ability of the complex. Ch disturbed the stability and solubility parameters of Acz due to the fact of its competence by CD; thus, Chems (steroid derivative) was selected for further liposome formulation studies. The optimization of the lipid bilayer composition (DDAB, 0.0173 mmol and no double loading) and the extrusion as methods to reduce vesicle size were crucial for improving the physico-chemical properties and encapsulation efficiency of both drugs. In vitro release and permeation studies demonstrated that the CLL formulation showed improvement in in vitro drug release and permeation compared to the liposomal formulations with a single drug (TM-L and AczHP-L) and the standard solutions (TM-S and AczHP-S). CLL showed high efficacy in reducing and prolonging IOP, suggesting that the synergistic effect of TM and Acz on aqueous humor retention and the presence of this cyclodextrin and liposomes as permeation enhancers are responsible for the success of this strategy of co-loading for glaucoma therapy.

The HCV replication cycle is tightly associated with host lipid metabolism: Lipoprotein receptors SR-B1 and LDLr promote entry of HCV, replication is associated with the formation of lipid-rich membranous organelles and infectious particle assembly highjacks the very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretory pathway. Hence, medications that interfere with the lipid metabolism of the cell, such as statins, may affect HCV infection. Here, we study the interplay between lipoprotein receptors, lipid homeostasis, and HCV infection by genetic and pharmacological interventions. We found that individual ablation of the lipoprotein receptors SR-B1 and LDLr did not drastically affect HCV entry, replication, or infection, but double lipoprotein receptor knock-outs significantly reduced HCV infection. Furthermore, we could show that this effect was neither due to altered expression of additional HCV entry factors nor caused by changes in cellular cholesterol content. Strikingly, whereas lipid-lowering drugs such as simvastatin or fenofibrate did not affect HCV entry or infection of immortalized hepatoma cells expressing SR-B1 and/or LDLr or primary human hepatocytes, ablation of these receptors rendered cells more susceptible to these drugs. Finally, we observed no significant differences between statin users and control groups with regards to HCV viral load in a cohort of HCV infected patients before and during HCV antiviral treatment. Interestingly, statin treatment, which blocks the mevalonate pathway leading to decreased cholesterol levels, was associated with mild but appreciable lower levels of liver damage markers before HCV therapy. Overall, our findings confirm the role of lipid homeostasis in HCV infection and highlight the importance of the mevalonate pathway in the HCV replication cycle.

Cancer is a complex disease affecting millions of people worldwide, with over a hundred clinically approved drugs available. In order to improve therapy, treatment, and response, it is essential to draw better maps of the targets of cancer drugs and possible side interactors. This study presents a large-scale screening method to find associations of cancer drugs with human genes. The analysis is focused on the current collection of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs (which includes about one hundred chemicals). The approach integrates global gene-expression transcriptomic profiles with drug-activity profiles of a set of 60 human cell lines obtained for a collection of chemical compounds (small bioactive molecules). Using a standardized expression for each gene versus standardized activity for each drug, Pearson and Spearman correlations were calculated for all possible pairwise gene-drug combinations. These correlations were used to build a global bipartite network that includes 1007 gene-drug significant associations. The data are integrated into an open web-tool called GEDA (Gene Expression and Drug Activity) which includes a relational view of cancer drugs and genes, disclosing the putative indirect interactions found for FDA-approved drugs as well as the known targets of these drugs. The results also provide insight into the complex action of pharmaceuticals, presenting an alternative view to address predicted pleiotropic effects of the drugs.

Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados y complicaciones a corto plazo al llevar a cabo vitrectomía pars plana o facovitrectomía en casos seleccionados para realizarse bajo anestesia tópica/intracameral. Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo, no comparativo, serie de casos, evaluando resultados y complicaciones de vitrectomía pars plana o facovitrectomía bajo anestesia tópica/intracameral (ropivacaína al 0.75%); comprendiendo 30 ojos (30 pacientes) con diferentes patologías vítreas incluyendo fragmentos de cristalino, hemorragia vítrea con o sin desprendimiento de retina traccional, agujero macular o membrana epirretiniana. El dolor subjetivo e incomodidad fueron estadificados de 1 (no dolor, solo incomodidad) a 4(dolor severo). Resultados: Un 60% eran mujeres, edad promedio de 58.42 años, el seguimiento promedio fue de 153.91 días, un 56.66% vitrectomía pars plana y un 43.33% facovitrectomía. Solo un 6.66% presentaron complicaciones, un 86.6% utilizó taponamiento de aire únicamente. Un 83.33% con ≤ grado 1 (de dolor). La agudeza visual mejor corregida presentó mejoría postoperatoria en el 93.33% (p

Resumen: Introducción: La aplicación informática SCAE-SM (Solicitud de Cita en Atención Especializada-Sospecha de Malignidad) es una herramienta informática de la que disponen los médicos de Atención Primaria (AP) para la derivación de pacientes que deban ser valorados por el especialista en un plazo máximo de 2 semanas, cuando se sospeche una patología maligna. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo fue analizar la utilidad de esta herramienta y proponer áreas de mejora en la gestión de los pacientes con sospecha de malignidad musculoesquelética. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal de las 235 derivaciones recibidas en los años 2012-2017. Se analizó su procedencia, la información contenida en las solicitudes y la respuesta proporcionada por evaluadores históricos (facultativos traumatólogos sin formación específica oncológica). Para este estudio, se ha realizado una nueva valoración ciega de todas las solicitudes por 13 traumatólogos con distinto nivel de formación específica en oncología musculoesquelética (reevaluadores). Resultados: De entre todas las SCAE-SM, solo el 8,23% de los pacientes presentaron enfermedad maligna o benigna agresiva. Los reevaluadores más acertados en la adecuación del adelanto de cita fueron aquellos con formación oncológica moderada (5-10 años de experiencia). Durante el periodo de tiempo del estudio, de todos los pacientes tratados en la Unidad de Tumores, solo el 18,81% accedieron por el circuito SCAE-SM, transcurriendo un tiempo medio de espera de 18,11 días desde la derivación de AP. Conclusiones: La aplicación informática SCAE-SM como herramienta de gestión y adelanto de la asistencia a los pacientes con patología tumoral musculoesquelética maligna es útil, si bien el uso del circuito es inadecuado. Es necesario difundirlo y generalizarlo, así como implementar programas de formación oncológica básica tanto en el ámbito de la AP como de la Hospitalaria. Abstract: Introduction: The SCAE-SM (Request for an Appointment in Specialized Care-Suspicion of Malignancy) computer application is a tool available to Primary Care (PC) physicians for the referral of patients who should be evaluated by the specialist in a maximum period of 2 weeks when malignancy is suspected. The objective of our work was to analyze the usefulness of this tool and propose areas for improvement in the management of patients with suspected musculoskeletal malignancy. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 235 referrals received in the years 2012–2017 was carried out. Their origin, the information contained in the applications and the response provided by historical evaluators, without specific oncology training, were analyzed. For this study, a new blind assessment of all applications was carried out by 13 orthopedists with different levels of specific training in musculoskeletal oncology (re-evaluators). Results: Among all SCAE-SM, only 8.23% of patients had aggressive benign or malignant disease. The most successful re-evaluators in the adequacy of early appointment were those with moderate oncological training (5–10 years of experience). During the study, of all the patients treated in the Tumor Unit, only 18.81% accessed through the SCAE-SM circuit, with a mean waiting time of 18.11 days from the PC referral. Conclusions: The SCAE-SM computer application as tool for improve the management and advance care for patients with malignant musculoskeletal tumor pathology is useful, although the use of the circuit is inadequate. It is necessary to disseminate and generalize it, as well as to implement basic oncology training programs both in the field of PC and Hospital.

Resumen: Introducción: La neuroinflamación está involucrada en la fisiopatología de diferentes trastornos neurológicos, en particular la enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) y la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP). Las alteraciones en la barrera hematoencefálica pueden permitir la entrada al sistema nervioso central de linfocitos periféricos, los cuales pueden participar en la patología de las enfermedades. Objetivo: Evaluar el perfil de linfocitos periféricos en pacientes con EA y EP y su asociación con la enfermedad y su progresión. Métodos: Se incluyeron 20 pacientes con EA, 20 pacientes con EP y un grupo de individuos sanos. Diez de los pacientes con EA y 12 de los pacientes con EP fueron evaluados una segunda vez de 17 a 27 meses después del inicio del estudio. Las subpoblaciones de linfocitos y su estado de activación se determinaron mediante citometría de flujo. Todos los pacientes fueron evaluados neurológicamente utilizando escalas validadas internacionalmente. Resultados: Los pacientes con EA y EP mostraron un aumento significativo en los niveles de linfocitos activados, linfocitos susceptibles a la apoptosis, células T de memoria central y células T y B reguladoras con respecto a los sujetos sanos. A medida que las enfermedades progresaron se observó una disminución significativa de las células activadas (CD4+ CD38+ y CD8+ CD38+ en EP y EA; CD4+ CD69+ y CD8+ CD69+ en EP), de las células T susceptibles a la apoptosis y de algunas poblaciones reguladoras (CD19+ CD5+ IL10+ en EP y EA; CD19+ CD5+ IL10+ FoxP3+, CD4+ FoxP3+ CD25+ CD45RO+ en EP). En pacientes con EA la progresión de la enfermedad se asoció con porcentajes más bajos de CD4 + CD38 + y mayores porcentajes de células CD4 efectoras al comienzo del estudio. Se observaron diferencias significativas entre ambas enfermedades. Conclusiones: Este estudio proporciona evidencia de cambios en los fenotipos de linfocitos periféricos asociados a EA y EP y a su gravedad. Teniendo en cuenta la comunicación efectiva sangre-cerebro, nuestros resultados abren nuevas vías para explorar terapias de inmunomodulación para tratar estas enfermedades. Abstract: Introduction: Neuroinflammation is involved in the pathophysiology of various neurological disorders, in particular Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Alterations in the blood-brain barrier may allow peripheral blood lymphocytes to enter the central nervous system; these may participate in disease pathogenesis. Objective: To evaluate the peripheral blood lymphocyte profiles of patients with AD and PD and their association with the disease and its progression. Methods: The study included 20 patients with AD, 20 with PD, and a group of healthy individuals. Ten of the patients with AD and 12 of those with PD were evaluated a second time 17 to 27 months after the start of the study. Lymphocyte subpopulations and their activation status were determined by flow cytometry. All patients underwent neurological examinations using internationally validated scales. Results: Compared to healthy individuals, patients with AD and PD showed significantly higher levels of activated lymphocytes, lymphocytes susceptible to apoptosis, central memory T cells, and regulatory T and B cells. As the diseases progressed, there was a significant decrease in activated cells (CD4+ CD38+ and CD8+ CD38 + in PD and AD, CD4+ CD69+ and CD8+ CD69+ in PD), T cells susceptible to apoptosis, and some regulatory populations (CD19+ CD5+ IL10+ in PD and AD, CD19+ CD5+ IL10+ FoxP3+, CD4+ FoxP3+ CD25+ CD45RO+ in PD). In patients with AD, disease progression was associated with lower percentages of CD4+ CD38+ cells and higher percentages of effector CD4 cells at the beginning of the study. Significant differences were observed between both diseases. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotypes associated with AD and PD and their severity. Considering effective blood-brain communication, our results open new avenues of research into immunomodulation therapies to treat these diseases.

A noticeable decrease in seismic noise was registered worldwide during the lockdown measures implemented in 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In Central America, strong lockdown measures started during March of 2020. In this study, we used seismic stations from Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua to study the effects of these measures on seismic records by characterizing temporal variations in the high-frequency band (4–14 Hz) via spectral and amplitude analyses. In addition, we studied the link between the reduction in seismic noise and the number of earthquake detections and felt reports in Costa Rica and Guatemala. We found that seismic stations near the capitals of Costa Rica, Guatemala, and El Salvador presented a decrease in their typical seismic noise levels, from 200 to 140, from 100 to 80, and from 120 to 80 nm, respectively. Our results showed that the largest reduction of ∼ 50 % in seismic noise was observed at seismic stations near main airports, busy roads, and densely populated cities. In Nicaragua, the seismic noise levels remained constant (∼ 40 nm), as no lockdown measures were applied. We suggest that the decrease in seismic noise levels may have increased earthquake detections and the number of felt reports of low-magnitude earthquakes. However, the variations observed in several seismic parameters before and after the lockdown are not significant enough to easily link our observations or separate them from other contributing factors. Our results imply that the study of seismic noise levels can be useful to verify compliance with lockdown measures and to explore their effects on earthquake detection and felt reports.

Prostate cancer (PCa) accounts for more than 1 in 5 diagnoses and is the second cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Although PCa may be successfully treated, patients may undergo cancer recurrence and there is a need for new biomarkers to improve the prediction of prostate cancer recurrence and improve treatment. Our laboratory demonstrated that HLA-B-associated transcript 1 (BAT1) was differentially expressed in patients with high Gleason scores when compared to low Gleason scores. BAT1 is an anti-inflammatory gene but its role in PCa has not been identified. The objective of this study is to understand the role of BAT1 in prostate cancer. In vitro studies showed that BAT1 down-regulation increased cell migration and invasion. In contrast, BAT1 overexpression decreased cell migration and invasion. RT-PCR analysis showed differential expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and cell adhesion and migration genes (MMP10, MMP13, and TIMPs) in BAT1 overexpressed cells when compared to BAT1 siRNA cells. Our in vivo studies demonstrated up-regulation of TNF-α, IL-6, and MMP10 in tumors developed from transfected BAT1 shRNA cells when compared to tumors developed from BAT1 cDNA cells. These findings indicate that BAT1 down-regulation modulates TNF-α and IL-6 expression which may lead to the secretion of MMP-10 and inhibition of TIMP2.

Abstract The medial temporal lobe (MTL) is a nidus for neurodegenerative pathologies and therefore an important region in which to study polypathology. We investigated associations between neurodegenerative pathologies and the thickness of different MTL subregions measured using high-resolution post-mortem MRI. Tau, TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), amyloid-β and α-synuclein pathology were rated on a scale of 0 (absent)—3 (severe) in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex (ERC) of 58 individuals with and without neurodegenerative diseases (median age 75.0 years, 60.3% male). Thickness measurements in ERC, Brodmann Area (BA) 35 and 36, parahippocampal cortex, subiculum, cornu ammonis (CA)1 and the stratum radiatum lacunosum moleculare (SRLM) were derived from 0.2 × 0.2 × 0.2 mm3 post-mortem MRI scans of excised MTL specimens from the contralateral hemisphere using a semi-automated approach. Spearman’s rank correlations were performed between neurodegenerative pathologies and thickness, correcting for age, sex and hemisphere, including all four proteinopathies in the model. We found significant associations of (1) TDP-43 with thickness in all subregions (r = − 0.27 to r = − 0.46), and (2) tau with BA35 (r = − 0.31) and SRLM thickness (r = − 0.33). In amyloid-β and TDP-43 negative cases, we found strong significant associations of tau with ERC (r = − 0.40), BA35 (r = − 0.55), subiculum (r = − 0.42) and CA1 thickness (r = − 0.47). This unique dataset shows widespread MTL atrophy in relation to TDP-43 pathology and atrophy in regions affected early in Braak stageing and tau pathology. Moreover, the strong association of tau with thickness in early Braak regions in the absence of amyloid-β suggests a role of Primary Age-Related Tauopathy in neurodegeneration.

Introduction: The SCAE-SM (Request for an Appointment in Specialized Care-Suspicion of Malignancy) computer application is a tool available to Primary Care physicians for the referral of patients who should be evaluated by the specialist in a maximum period of 2 weeks when malignancy is suspected. The objective of our work was to analyze the usefulness of this tool and propose areas for improvement in the management of patients with suspected musculoskeletal malignancy. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 235 referrals received in the years 2012–2017 was carried out. Their origin, the information contained in the applications and the response provided by historical evaluators, without specific oncology training, were analyzed. For this study, a new blind assessment of all applications was carried out by 13 orthopedists with different levels of specific training in musculoskeletal oncology (re-evaluators). Results: Among all SCAE-SM, only 8.23% of patients had aggressive benign or malignant disease. The most successful re-evaluators in the adequacy of early appointment were those with moderate oncological training (5–10 years of experience). During the study, of all the patients treated in the Tumor Unit, only 18.81% accessed through the SCAE-SM circuit, with a mean waiting time of 18.11 days from the PC referral. Conclusions: The SCAE-SM computer application as tool for improve the management and advance care for patients with malignant musculoskeletal tumor pathology is useful, although the use of the circuit is inadequate. It is necessary to disseminate and generalize it, as well as to implement basic oncology training programs both in the field of Primary Care and Hospital. Resumen: Introducción: La aplicación informática Solicitud de Cita en Atención Especializada-Sospecha de Malignidad (SCAE-SM) es una herramienta informática de la que disponen los médicos de atención primaria (AP) para la derivación de pacientes que deban ser valorados por el especialista en un plazo máximo de 2 semanas, cuando se sospeche de una enfermedad maligna. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo fue analizar la utilidad de esta herramienta, y proponer áreas de mejora en la gestión de los pacientes con sospecha de malignidad musculoesquelética. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal de las 235 derivaciones recibidas en los años 2012-2017. Se analizó su procedencia, la información contenida en las solicitudes y la respuesta proporcionada por evaluadores históricos (facultativos traumatólogos sin formación específica oncológica). Para este estudio se ha realizado una nueva valoración ciega de todas las solicitudes por 13 traumatólogos con distinto nivel de formación específica en oncología musculoesquelética (re-evaluadores). Resultados: De entre todas las SCAE-SM, solo el 8,23% de los pacientes presentaron enfermedad maligna o benigna agresiva. Los re-evaluadores más acertados en la adecuación del adelanto de cita fueron aquellos con formación oncológica moderada (5-10 años de experiencia). Durante el periodo de tiempo del estudio, de todos los pacientes tratados en la unidad de tumores, solo el 18,81% accedieron por el circuito SCAE-SM, transcurriendo un tiempo medio de espera de 18,11 días desde la derivación de AP. Conclusiones: La aplicación informática SCAE-SM como herramienta de gestión y adelanto de la asistencia a los pacientes con enfermedad tumoral musculoesquelética maligna es útil, si bien el uso del circuito es inadecuado. Es necesario difundirlo y generalizarlo, así como implementar programas de formación oncológica básica tanto en el ámbito de la AP como de la hospitalaria.

BackgroundResearch has suggested that there is a mental health crisis occurring among graduate students in the United States. Moreover, many students go without effective treatment owing to the limited availability of mental and behavioral health resources on college campuses. Text-based therapy may represent a viable method for increasing access to mental health support for graduate students, but little is known regarding its acceptability in this population. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess how graduate students perceive text-based therapy and their likelihood of seeking out this form of therapy. MethodsIn total, 265 graduate students completed a cross-sectional web-based survey that included multiple-choice and open-ended questions assessing their perceptions of text-based therapy and the likelihood of seeking out this form of therapy. Chi-square tests, ANOVAs, and nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to examine differences in multiple-choice questions. The constant comparative method was used for qualitative analyses of the open-ended question responses. ResultsParticipants (n=265) were predominately non-Hispanic White (166/265, 62.6%) and female (167/265, 63%) with a mean age of 28.3 (SD 5.1) years. Over half of the participants (139/265, 52.5%) were not aware that text-based therapy existed; however, 65.3% (173/265) reported that they would consider using text-based services, if available. In comparison to face-to-face therapy, participants reported being less likely to seek out text-based therapy and perceived it as less effective (P

Streptococcus pneumoniaeSpnSpn

Introduction: Parents acquire information about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines online and encounter vaccine-critical content, especially on social media, which may depress vaccine uptake. Secondary analysis in a randomized trial of a Facebook-delivered adolescent health campaign targeting mothers with posts on HPV vaccination was undertaken with the aims of (a) determining whether the pre–post-change occurred in self-reports of the mothers on HPV vaccination of their adolescent daughters; (b) describing the comments and reactions to vaccine posts; (c) exploring the relationship of campaign engagement of the mothers assessed by their comments and reactions to posts to change in the self-reports of the mothers of HPV vaccination.Materials and Methods: Mothers of daughters aged 14–17 were recruited from 34 states of the US (n = 869). A social media campaign was delivered in two Facebook private groups that differed in that 16% of posts in one were focused on indoor tanning (IT) and 16% in the other, on prescription drug misuse, assigned by randomization. In both groups, posts promoted HPV vaccination (n = 38 posts; no randomization) and vaccination for other disease (e.g., influenza, n = 49). HPV and other vaccination posts covered the need for a vaccine, the number of adolescents vaccinated, how vaccines are decreasing the infection rates, and stories of positive benefits of being vaccinated or harms from not vaccinating. Guided by social cognitive theory and diffusion of innovations theory, posts were intended to increase knowledge, perceived risk, response efficacy (i.e., a relative advantage over not vaccinated daughters), and norms for vaccination. Some vaccination posts linked to stories to capitalize on identification effects in narratives, as explained in transportation theory. All mothers received the posts on vaccination (i.e., there was no randomization). Mothers completed surveys at baseline and 12- and 18-month follow-up to assess HPV vaccine uptake by self-report measures. Reactions (such as sad, angry) and comments to each HPV-related post were counted and coded.Results: Initiation of HPV vaccination (1 dose) was reported by 63.4% of mothers at baseline, 71.3% at 12-month posttest (pre/post p < 0.001), and 73.3% at 18-month posttest (pre/post p < 0.001). Completion of HPV vaccination (two or three doses) was conveyed by 50.2% of mothers at baseline, 62.5% at 12-month posttest (pre/post p < 0.001), and 65.9% at 18-month posttest (pre/post p < 0.001). For posts on HPV vaccines, 8.1% of mothers reacted (n = 162 total), and 68.4% of posts received a reaction (63.2% like; 13.2% love, 7.9% sad). In addition, 7.6% of mothers commented (n = 122; 51 unfavorable, 68 favorable, 1 neutral), and 50.0% of these posts received a comment. There were no differences in pre–post change in vaccine status by the count of reactions or comments to HPV vaccine posts (Ps > 0.05). Baseline vaccination was associated with the valence of comments to HPV vaccine posts (7.2% of mothers whose daughters had completed the HPV series at baseline made a favorable comment but 7.6% of mothers whose daughters were unvaccinated made an unfavorable comment).Conclusion: Effective strategies are needed in social media to promote HPV vaccines and counter misinformation about and resistance to them. Mothers whose daughters complete the HPV vaccine course might be recruited as influencers on HPV vaccines, as they may be predisposed to talk favorably about the vaccine. Comments from mothers who have not been vaccinated should be monitored to ensure that they do not spread vaccine-critical misinformation. Study limitations included lack of randomization and control group, relatively small number of messages on HPV vaccines, long measurement intervals, inability to measure views of vaccination posts, reduced generalizability related to ethnicity and social media use, and use of self-reported vaccine status.Clinical Trial Registration:www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT02835807.

Abstract Background Alzheimer’s disease may compromise several musical competences, though no clear data is available in the scientific literature. Furthermore, music is capable of communicating basic emotions, but little is known about the emotional aspect of music in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. We present a systematic investigation of music processing in relation to extra-musical skills, in particular emotional skills in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Methods We tested 30 patients with mild or moderate Alzheimer’s disease and 30 control subjects. We essentially evaluated (a) musical competences, using the extra-linguistic test, Solfeggio test and the recognition test of musical emotions—elaborated by our research team—and the Seashore test, and (b) emotional capacities using emotional memory and emotional prosody tests—made by our research group. Results We significantly observed lower total results of every test assessing cognitive, emotional and music competences in Alzheimer’s disease patients than those in control subjects, but the score of musical emotion recognition test did not reach to a significant difference between the subjects groups. Conclusions Our findings found a global impairment of music competences in Alzheimer patients with cognitive and emotional troubles. Nevertheless, the performances in the recognition test of musical emotions showed a trend towards a performance difference. We can suggest that Alzheimer’s disease currently presents an aphaso-agnoso-apractic-amusia syndrome.

Introduction: Visit-to-visit variability (VVV) of blood pressure (BP) has been associated to cardiovascular mortality, stroke, and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between VVV of BP and changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in subjects with CKD Stage 3A, 3B, and 4. Materials and methods: We analyzed the medical records of 75 CKD patients for a period of 48 months. Results: Demographic characteristics obtained revealed no differences between the three groups. The averages of the diastolic BP factor were 78.4, 74.7, and 76.5 for the CKD 3A, CKD 3B, and CKD 4, respectively. The greatest variability was observed in Stage 4 CKD with a value of 21.5%, 18.1%, and 34.80% for eGFR, systolic BP (SBP), and pulse pressure (PP), respectively. The highest coefficient of variability was 34.80% in PP in Stage 4 CKD. In CKD 3A, eGFR is significantly associated with the PP factor. In CKD 3B, eGFR is significantly associated with the SBP factor and tends to significance with the PP factor. No significant association was found between the eGFR of stage CKD 4 and the different pressure factors. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that if VVV of BP is not observed, eGFR would not be expected to decrease.

The expansion of marine protected areas in pelagic areas has been crucial to achieve sufficient protection of the oceans. However, there is still some controversy about whether these protected areas actually cover the vital areas for some species. We investigate the summer distribution of the critically endangered Balearic Shearwater and its overlap with the Special Protection Area for seabirds (SPA), using the Gulf of Cadiz as a case study. This area holds the SPA named Marine Area of Gulf of Cádiz, covering 2314.2 km2. A dataset of nine years of vessel-based surveys between 2006 and 2017 was analysed, using Kernel Density Estimation to generate the core area polygons for each year. The area located off the Bay of Cádiz, southeast of the mouth of the Guadalquivir, has revealed as a very consistent key area for this species during summer. This area, covering 1082 km2, regularly hosted populations that exceeded the threshold for area of international importance (IBA criteria) for the species. The current SPA covers less than 40% of this new key area. The limitation in the number of years of monitoring and seasonal differences in the dataset used to establish the boundaries of the current protected area may be at the base of these discrepancies. This study emphasizes the importance of synthesizing and collecting long-term information to define marine protected areas and to assess their efficiency over the time. Furthermore, our study highlights the urgent need to expand this marine protected area to protect effectively this critically threatened species. Keywords: Balearic shearwater, Marine protected areas, Gulf of cadiz, Kernel density estimation, Long-term survey, Adaptive management

Abstract Background Residual feed intake (RFI) in dairy cattle typically calculated at peak lactation is a measure of feed efficiency independent of milk production level. The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in ruminal bacteria, biopolymer hydrolyzing enzyme activities, and overall performance between the most- and the least-efficient dairy cows during the peripartal period. Twenty multiparous Holstein dairy cows with daily ad libitum access to a total mixed ration from d − 10 to d 60 relative to the calving date were used. Cows were classified into most-efficient (i.e. with low RFI, n = 10) and least-efficient (i.e. with high RFI, n = 10) based on a linear regression model involving dry matter intake (DMI), fat-corrected milk (FCM), changes in body weight (BW), and metabolic BW. Results The most-efficient cows had ~ 2.6 kg/d lower DMI at wk 4, 6, 7, and 8 compared with the least-efficient cows. In addition, the most-efficient cows had greater relative abundance of total ruminal bacterial community during the peripartal period. Compared with the least-efficient cows, the most-efficient cows had 4-fold greater relative abundance of Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens at d − 10 and d 10 around parturition and tended to have greater abundance of Fibrobacter succinogenes and Megaspheara elsdenii. In contrast, the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus and Streptococcus bovis was lower and Succinimonas amylolytica and Prevotella bryantii tended to be lower in the most-efficient cows around calving. During the peripartal period, the most-efficient cows had lower enzymatic activities of cellulase, amylase, and protease compared with the least-efficient cows. Conclusions The results suggest that shifts in ruminal bacteria and digestive enzyme activities during the peripartal period could, at least in part, be part of the mechanism associated with better feed efficiency in dairy cows.

Abstract Background Radiation pneumonitis (RP) is a frequent complication of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and is associated with severe symptoms that decrease quality of life and might result in pulmonary fibrosis or death. The aim of this study is to identify whether pulmonary function test (PFT) abnormalities may predict RP in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods A prospective multi-institutional study was conducted with locally advanced and oligometastatic NSCLC patients. All participants were evaluated at baseline, end of CCRT, week 6, 12, 24, and 48 post-CCRT. They completed forced spirometry with a bronchodilator, body plethysmography, impulse oscillometry, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO), molar mass of CO2, six-minute walk test and exhaled fraction of nitric oxide (FeNO). Radiation pneumonitis was assessed with RTOG and CTCAE. The protocol was registered in www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01580579), registered April 19, 2012. Results Fifty-two patients were enrolled; 37 completed one-year follow-up. RP ≥ Grade 2 was present in 11/37 (29%) for RTOG and 15/37 (40%) for CTCAE. Factors associated with RP were age over 60 years and hypofractionated dose. PFT abnormalities at baseline that correlated with the development of RP included lower forced expiratory volume in one second after bronchodilator (p = 0.02), DLCO (p = 0.02) and FeNO (p = 0.04). All PFT results decreased after CCRT and did not return to basal values at follow-up. Conclusions FEV1, DLCO and FeNO prior to CCRT predict the development of RP in NSCLC. This study suggests that all patients under CCRT should be assessed by PFT to identify high-risk patients for close follow-up and early treatment.

The prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders is increasing; however, an effective neuroprotective treatment is still remaining. Nutrition plays an important role in neuroprotection as recently shown by epidemiological and biochemical studies which identified food components as promising therapeutic agents. Neuroprotection includes mechanisms such as activation of specific receptors, changes in enzymatic neuronal activity, and synthesis and secretion of different bioactive molecules. All these mechanisms are focused on preventing neuronal damage and alleviating the consequences of massive cell loss. Some neuropathological disorders selectively affect to particular neuronal populations, thus is important to know their neurochemical and anatomical properties in order to design effective therapies. Although the design of such treatments would be specific to neuronal groups sensible to damage, the effect would have an impact in the whole nervous system. The difficult overcoming of the blood brain barrier has hampered the development of efficient therapies for prevention or protection. This structure is a physical, enzymatic, and influx barrier that efficiently protects the brain from exogenous molecules. Therefore, the development of new strategies, like nanocarriers, that help to promote the access of neuroprotective molecules to the brain, is needed for providing more effective therapies for the disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). In order both to trace the success of these nanoplatforms on the release of the bioactive cargo in the CNS and determinate the concentration at trace levels of targets biomolecules by analytical chemistry and concretely separation instrumental techniques, constitute an essential tool. Currently, these techniques are used for the determination and identification of natural neuroprotective molecules in complex matrixes at different concentration levels. Separation techniques such as chromatography and capillary electrophoresis (CE), using optical and/or mass spectrometry (MS) detectors, provide multiples combinations for the quantitative and qualitative analysis at basal levels or higher concentrations of bioactive analytes in biological samples. Bearing this in mind, the development of food neuroprotective molecules as brain therapeutic agents is a complex task that requires the intimate collaboration and engagement of different disciplines for a successful outcome. In this sense, this work reviews the new advances achieved in the area toward a better understanding of the current state of the art and highlights promising approaches for brain neuroprotection.

The benefits of pasture-based systems on the fatty acid composition of sheep meat appear to be achievable despite variability in the quality of the pastures. Lambs fed high levels of temperate pastures have an excess of N-ammonia derived from protein degradation. Furthermore, animal performance is highly variable depending on the quality of the pasture at the time of grazing, and high animal performance in these systems appears to be linked to the use of high-quality pastures with high availability, and is possibly added to by the inclusion of concentrates that allow increasing energy intake and a better use of the N in the pasture. The combination of high-quality pastures and total mixed ration offers a good alternative to the inclusion of concentrates in the diet, improving the use of N, and avoiding acidosis problems. However, information to determine the effect of a number of nutritional strategies on meat quality, and the minimum level of pasture intake necessary to achieve the benefits of pastoral systems is still lacking.

The Mexican volcanic belt (MVB) is a seismogenic zone that transects the central part of Mexico with an east–west orientation. The seismic risk and hazard of this seismogenic zone has not been studied in detail due to the scarcity of instrumental data as well as because seismicity in the continental regime of central Mexico is not too frequent. However, it is known that there are precedents of large earthquakes (Mw > 6.0) that have taken place in this zone. The valley of Mexico City (VM) is the sole zone, within the MVB, that has been studied in detail. Studies have mainly focused on the ground amplification during large events such as the 1985 subduction earthquake that occurred off coast of Michoacán. The purpose of this article is to analyze the behavior of site effects in the MVB zone based on records of shallow earthquakes (data not reported before) that occurred in the zone between 1998 and 2011. We present a general overview of site effects in the MVB, a classification of the stations in order to reduce the uncertainty in the data when obtaining attenuation parameters in future works, as well as some comparisons between the information presented here and that presented in previous studies. A regional evaluation of site effects and Fourier acceleration spectrum (FAS) shape was estimated based on 80 records of 22 shallow earthquakes within the MVB zone. Data of 25 stations were analyzed. Site effects were estimated by using the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) methodology. The results show that seismic waves are less amplified in the northeast sites of the MVB with respect to the rest of the zone and that it is possible to classify two groups of stations: (1) stations with negligible site amplification (NSA) and (2) stations with significant site amplification (SSA). Most of the sites in the first group showed small ( These aspects help to advance the understanding about the amplification behavior and of the expected seismic risk on central Mexico due to large earthquakes within the MVB seismogenic zone.

The town of Peñamiller in the state of Querétaro, Mexico, is located at the northeast border of the seismogenic zone known as the Mexican Volcanic Belt (MVB), which transects the central part of Mexico with an east–west orientation. In the vicinity of this town, a sequence of small earthquakes occurred during the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011. Seismicity in the continental regimen of central Mexico is not too frequent; however, it is known that there are precedents of large earthquakes (Mw magnitude greater than 6.0) occurring in this zone. Three large earthquakes have occurred in the past 100 yr: the 19 November 1912 (MS = 7.0), the 3 January 1920 (MS = 6.4), and the 29 June 1935 (MS = 6.9) earthquakes. Prior to the instrumental period, the earthquake of 11 February 1875, which took place near the city of Guadalajara, caused widespread damage. The purpose of this article is to contribute to the available seismic information of this region. This will help advance our understanding of the tectonic situation of the central Mexico MVB region. Twenty-four shallow earthquakes of the Peñamiller seismic sequence of 2011 were recorded by a temporary accelerograph network installed by the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro (UAQ). The data were analyzed in order to determine the source locations and to estimate the source parameters. The study was carried out through an inversion process and by spectral analysis. The results show that the largest earthquake occurred on 8 February 2011 at 19:53:48.6 UTC, had a moment magnitude Mw = 3.5, and was located at latitude 21.039° and longitude −99.752°, at a depth of 5.6 km. This location is less than 7 km away in a south-east direction from downtown Peñamiller. The focal mechanisms are mostly normal faults with small lateral components. These focal mechanisms are consistent with the extensional regimen of the southern extension of the Basin and Range (BR) province. The source area of the largest event was estimated to have a radius of 0.5 km, which corresponds to a normal fault with azimuth of 174° and an almost pure dip slip. Peak ground acceleration (PGA) was close to 100 cm s−2 in the horizontal direction. Shallow earthquakes induced by crustal faulting present a potential seismic risk and hazard within the MVB, considering the population growth. Thus, the necessity to enrich seismic information in this zone is very important since the risk at most urban sites in the region might even be greater than that posed by subduction earthquakes.

Objetivo: Explorar la relación entre la satisfacción corporal, las actitudes hacia el cuerpo y hacia la obesidad, la calidad de la dieta y la salud emocional en un grupo de estudiantes universitarias. La hipótesis de partida fue que las actitudes favorables a la delgadez y de miedo a la obesidad inducirían conductas de control de peso y una peor calidad de la dieta. Métodos: Participaron 55 mujeres de 19-25 años. Se analizó la relación entre índice de masa corporal (IMC), calidad de la dieta (CD), conductas restrictivas, actitudes alimentarias (EDI-2, CIMEC) y hacia la obesidad (AFA). Asimismo se recogieron medidas de salud (SF12) y estado emocional (PNA). Resultados: El 10,9% de las participantes presentó una dieta "pobre", el 83,6% "necesita mejorar" y el 5,5% una dieta "buena". La mayoría estaba insatisfecha con su peso corporal aún cuando su IMC se situaba en parámetros normales. Las conductas restrictivas de control de peso se asociaron a actitudes de riesgo para trastornos de la conducta alimentaria, pero la CD no discriminó grupos de alto y bajo IMC, ni se relacionó con las actitudes. La insatisfacción corporal y las presiones sobre la imagen corporal fueron más frecuentes cuanto mayor era la ansiedad (afecto negativo). La imagen social idealizada de la delgadez se relacionó con estigmatización de la obesidad, con menor diversidad de la dieta y con más conductas restrictivas. Conclusión: Los resultados de este estudio piloto contribuyen a esclarecer la asociación entre índices psicológicos y conductuales relacionados con la alimentación en mujeres jóvenes universitarias.Objective: Investigate the relationship between body satisfaction, attitudes toward body and obesity, diet quality and emotional health in a group of university students. The initial hypothesis was that attitudes to thinness and fear of obesity induces weight control behaviours and lower diet quality. Methods: 55 women of 19-25 years. The relationship between body mass index (BMI), diet quality (DQ), restrictive behaviours, eating attitudes (EDI-2, CIMEC) and attitudes toward obesity (AFA) was analyzed. Measures of health (SF-12) and emotional state (PNA) were also collected. Results: 10.9% of the sample had a diet classified as "poor", 83.6% "needs improvement" and 5.5% followed a "good" diet. Most of participants were dissatisfied with their weight even when their BMI was located in the normal range. Weight-restrictive behaviors were associated with risk attitudes to eating disorders, but DQ did not discriminate among high and low BMI groups, nor was related to attitudes. The more was the anxiety (negative affect), the more were the body dissatisfaction and pressures on body image. Idealized social image of thinness was linked to the stigmatization of obesity, lower dietary diversity and more restrictive practices. Conclusion: The results of this pilot study contributes to clarify the relationship between psychological and behavioral indices related to diet in university women students.

Introducción: Se ha revisado la literatura científica sobre estrategias de atención a los problemas de salud mental en el medio penitenciario. Se aportan datos de las principales actuaciones puestas en práctica por las administraciones penitenciarias para responder a las preocupantes cifras que señalan los más recientes estudios epidemiológicos de trastornos mentales en prisión, con tasas que comparadas con la población general, duplican los Trastornos Mentales Comunes (TMC) y cuadriplican los Trastornos Mentales Graves (TMG) entre las personas que se encuentran en prisión. Material y métodos: Se han revisado las bases de datos bibliográficas más importantes sobre las políticas asistenciales a los problemas de salud mental en el medio penitenciario, que han sido publicadas por los responsables de las administraciones penitenciarias en los últimos 10 años. Estos datos se han completado con datos obtenidos con el análisis de los indicadores disponibles en la Coordinación de Sanidad sobre las estrategias propias en materia de asistencia a problemas de salud mental en centros dependientes de la Secretaría General de Instituciones Penitenciarias, en España. Resultados: Hay poca literatura científica donde se enuncien las políticas asistenciales de las diferentes administraciones sobre la asistencia a problemas de salud mental en el medio penitenciario. Las que lo hacen están de acuerdo en una serie de afirmaciones: se debe ofrecer una respuesta terapéutica de igual calidad a la recibida por los enfermos en la comunidad, debe ser un equipo multidisciplinar el encargado de atender a este tipo de pacientes, es preciso un esfuerzo de coordinación entre las administraciones que en un momento determinado deben atender a estos pacientes, la asistencial, la social, la judicial y la penitenciaria.Introduction: A review was carried out of scientific literature on health care strategies for mental health problems in the prison environment. Data is given about the main activities put into practice by prison administrations as a response to the worrying information that has come to light in recent epidemiological studies on mental disorders in prison, with figures that, when compared to the general population, give results of double the number of cases of Common Mental Illness (CMI) and four times the number of cases of Severe Mental Illness (SMI) amongst prison inmates. Materials and methods: A review was made of the most important bibliographical databases containing health care policies for mental health problems in prison published by prison administrations in the last 10 years. This information was completed with other data obtained from an analysis of the indicators available in Health Care Coordination on its health care strategies for mental health in centres run by the Secretary General of Prisons, in Spain. Results: There is little in the way of scientific literature that clearly states health care policies for mental illness in the prison environment. Those that do tend to agree with a number of affirmations that include the obligation to offer a therapeutic response of equal quality to that received by patients in the community, the need for a multi-disciplinary team responsible for caring for this type of patient, along with a coordinated effort between the medical, social, legal and prison administrations that at a given time have to care for them.

Introduction: Although dietitians play an important role in the anthropometric assessment, reports on measurements made by these health professionals rarely include estimates of measurement error. Aim: To estimate of intraobserver precision for three common anthropometric measurements made by dietitians. Methods: Twenty six measurers performed measurements (upper mid-arm circumference, tricipital and bicipital skinfold) in two times a sample of ten volunteers. Four precision estimates were calculated: the technical error of measurement (TEM), the relative technical error of measurement (rTEM), the coefficient of reliability (R) and the coefficient of variation (CV). Results: For skinfold thickness, rTEM was smaller than 2.2; for circumference, rTEM was smaller than 0.6. The precision to measure skinfolds was lower than the precision to circumference. Anyway, for all measurements R showed a high degree of precision (R > 95). Conclusion: Our results suggest that anthropometric parameters evaluated are sufficiently precise. However, periodical training is necessary to control and minimize the anthropometric measurement error.Introducción: Aunque los dietistas desempeñan un papel importante en la evaluación antropométrica, las medidas registradas por estos profesionales sanitarios normalmente no incluyen estimación de errores de medida. Objetivo: Estimar la precisión intraobservador de tres medidas antropométricas habituales realizadas por dietistas. Métodos: Veintiséis medidores realizaron en dos ocasiones las medidas (circunferencia media del brazo, pliegue tricipital y bicipital) a una muestra formada por diez voluntarios. Se calcularon cuatro estimaciones de precisión: el error técnico de medida (ETM), el error relativo técnico de medida (ERTM), el coeficiente de fiabilidad (F) y el coeficiente de variación (CV). Resultados: Para los pliegues, el ERTM fue menor de 2,2 y para la circunferencia el ERTM fue menor de 0,6. La precisión para medir los pliegues fue menor que para la circunferencia. De todos modos, para todas las medidas efectuadas la F mostró un elevado grado de precisión (F > 95). Conclusión: Nuestros resultados sugieren que los parámetros antropométricos evaluados son lo suficientemente precisos. Sin embargo, es necesario un entrenamiento periódico para controlar y minimizar los errores de las medidas antropométricas.

Background: angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor progression. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important regulator of angiogenesis. In the present study we evaluated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) -2578C > A, -1154G > A, and +936C > T in the VEGF gene, and their prognostic value for patients operated on for colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients and method: VEGF polymorphisms have been analyzed in 177 patients who had undergone surgical resection at Hospital Clínico San Carlos. The analysis of these polymorphisms was performed with specific probes for each nucleotide in a multiplex reaction using real-time PCR. Results: we only found a statistically significant relationship for one of these three polymorphisms, +936C > T, with gender and tumor location; 10.7% of patients heterozygotes for this SNP had tumors located in proximal colon, 35.2% in distal segment and 54.1% in rectum (p = 0.03). Patients with the +936T/T genotype had 100% overall survival (OS). Conclusion: patients with a +936T/T genotype showed increased survival, therefore the +936C > T SNP could be a useful marker in the follow-up and clinical management of patients with colorectal cancer.Introducción: la angiogénesis juega un papel importante en la progresión de los tumores. El factor de crecimiento endotelial vascular (VEGF) es un importante regulador de la angiogénesis. En este trabajo se han analizado los polimorfismos de único nucleó-tido (SNP) -2578C > A, -1154G > A y +936C > T del gen VEGF en pacientes intervenidos de carcinoma colorrectal, así como su posible implicación pronóstica. Pacientes y método: el estudio de estos SNP se ha realizado en 177 pacientes intervenidos quirúrgicamente de carcinoma colorrectal (CCR) en el Hospital Clínico San Carlos. El análisis de los polimorfismos se realizó con sondas específicas para cada nucleótido y se determinó mediante una reacción multiplex mediante real time PCR. Resultados: de los 3 polimorfismos estudiados sólo encontramos relación estadísticamente significativa del SNP +936C > T con el sexo y la localización. El 10,7% de los pacientes heterocigotos para este SNP tenían como localización el tumor en colon proximal, el 35,2% en colon distal y el resto en recto (p = 0,03). La supervivencia global (SG) de los pacientes con el genotipo +936T/T fue del 100%. Conclusión: los pacientes con el genotipo +936T/T presentan mayor supervivencia y el polimorfismo +936C > T podría ser una herramienta de ayuda en el seguimiento y terapéutica de este grupo de pacientes.

Objetivo: Analizar la percepción de la imagen corporal y comparar los resultados con las medidas reales en un grupo de estudiantes universitarias. Sujetos: La muestra estuvo formada por 28 mujeres estudiantes de la Diplomatura en Nutrición Humana y Dietética de la Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), que participaron voluntariamente tras dar su consentimiento informado. La edad media fue de 22,01 ± 2,12 años (20,23-28,25). Material y métodos: Las variables de antropometría estimadas de forma directa y los índices derivados se compararon con valores de referencia. La valoración de la percepción de la imagen corporal se llevó a cabo con un software somatomórfico. La diferencia entre las medidas percibidas y las ideales se utilizaron como medida de insatisfacción con la imagen corporal. El análisis estadístico se llevó a cabo con el programa SPSS vs 14,0. Resultados y discusión: La prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en la muestra objeto de estudio fue del 10,7%, y la de bajo peso fue del 7,1%. La percepción de la grasa corporal fue buena, mientras que la de la masa muscular difirió en gran medida de la real (3,91 ± 2,75 kg/m²; P < 0,001). El nivel de insatisfacción corporal fue más elevado para la masa grasa (6,00 ± 8,61%; P < 0,001) que para elíndice de musculación (1,65 ± 2,82 kg/m²; P < 0,01), lo que puede estar justificado por los cánones de belleza actuales y por la sobre-valoración de la delgadez. A la vista de los resultados, consideramos que sería interesante continuar en esta línea de investigación, con el fin de poder hacer análisis comparativos con otros grupos de población.Objetive: To assess the body image perception and to compare the results with the true measurements in a group of university students. Subjects: Participants were 28 volunteer females recruited from the degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetic from the University of the Basque Country (Spain). All participants gave their informed consent. The mean (SD) age of the participants was 22.01 (2.12) years (20,23-28,25). Methods: Anthropometric measurement estimated directly and the derived indexes were compared with reference values. The assessment of body image perception was made using a somatomorphic software. The difference between the perceived measurements and the ideals were used as measure of body dissatisfaction. Data were analyzed using SPSS vs 14.0. Results and discussion: Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 10.7%, and of under-weight was 70.1%. The body fat perception was well, while the perception of the muscle index was significantly different from the real measure (3.91 ± 2.75 kg/m²; P < 0.001). The level of body dissatisfaction was higher for the body fat (6.00 ± 8.61%; P < 0.001) than for the muscle index (1.65 ± 2.82 kg/m²; P < 0.01). This result can be justified for the present canons of beauty and for the overvaluation of the thinness. Additional research is needed to further know the relation between female body image and true measurements of body composition. Future research will allow to compare the results with other populations.

Objetivo: Valorar la calidad de la dieta y examinar su relación con el sobrepeso y obesidad en un grupo de estudiantes universitarios. Sujetos: La muestra estuvo formada por 749 voluntarios (68% mujeres y 32% hombres) de la Universidad del País Vasco, de carácter público. La media de edad fue de 21,52 ± 2,50 años. Material y métodos: Se utilizó un cuestionario de frecuencias de consumo de alimentos adaptado y validado frente a un cuestionario de 24 horas. A partir de los datos recogidos en el cuestionario de frecuencias, se estimó un índice de calidad de la dieta con una puntuación entre 0 y 50 puntos. El índice de masa corporal se utilizó como criterio de sobrepeso u obesidad. Se registraron datos demográficos (edad, sexo) y de estilo de vida (hábito tabáquico y consumo de alcohol). El análisis estadístico se llevó a cabo con el programa SPSS vs 13.0. El nivel de significación estadística que se empleó en todos los casos fue de P < 0,05. Resultados: La prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en la muestra objeto de estudio fue del 17,5% (25% en hombres y 13,9% en mujeres). La puntuación media del índice de calidad de la dieta fue de 31,93 ± 5,62. Se registraron puntuaciones más altas para el índice de calidad en las mujeres y en el grupo que consumía alcohol con una frecuencia inferior a tres veces por semana. Tanto en la muestra total como en los hombres, la puntuación media para el índice de calidad fue significativamente menor en los sujetos con sobrepeso u obesidad en comparación con aquellos que presentaban normopeso. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que la calidad de la dieta está asociada con el sobrepeso y la obesidad punen la población objeto de estudio, existiendo además ciertas variaciones en función del sexo y del consumo de alcohol. Puesto que el índice de calidad de la dieta se basa en las guías dietéticas, el empleo de estas guías puede ser útil para promover hábitos de alimentación saludables en la población universitaria.Objective: To assess diet quality and to examine the association between diet quality and overweight and obesity in a group of university students. Subjects: Our simple consisted of 749 volunteer students of the State University of the Basque Country (68% females and 32% males). Mean age was 21.52 ± 2.50 years old. Methods: Dietary intake data were obtained from food frequency questionnaire. This questionnaire was validated using a 24 hour recall technique. From these data the diet quality index score was calculated. The total diet quality index score ranges from 0 to 50. Body mass index was used as criteria to identify overweight and obesity.Demographic data (age, sex), smoking status and alcohol use were also registered. The statistical analyses were performed with SPSS vs 13.0. Significance level P < 0.05. Results: Prevalence of overweight and obesity for the total sample was 17.5% (25% in males and 13.9% in females). The mean diet quality index was 31.93 ± 5.62.The diet quality index score was higher in women and among individuals who have a consumption of alcohol lower than 3 times per week. The mean diet quality index was significantly lower among obese and overweight subjects compared to the normal weight individuals in total sample and in men. Conclusions: Our results suggest that diet quality is associated with overweight and obesity in this population, and that this association varied across sex groups and groups according to alcohol consumption. Since the diet quality index is based on the Dietary Guidelines, the use of these guidelines as a way to improve health should be emphasized.

Introduction: Raw-milk cheese has been identified in risk assessment as a food of greater concern to public health due to listeriosis. Objective: To determine the prevalence and levels of Listeria monocytogenes in semi-hard Idiazabal cheese manufactured by different producers in the Basque Country at consumer level. Methodology: A total of 51 Idiazabal cheese samples were obtained from 10 separate retail establishments, chosen by stratified random sampling. Samples were tested using the official standard ISO procedure 11290-1 for detection and enumeration methods. Results and conclusion: All cheese samples tested negative for L. monocytogenes. However, 9.8% tested positive for Listeria spp., different from L. monocytogenes. Positive samples came from two brands, two were natural and three were smoked. The presence of Listeria spss. suggests that the cheese making process and the hygiene whether at milking or during cheese making could be insufficient.Introducción: Listeria monocytogenes se ha asociado a quesos elaborados a partir de leche cruda, lo que supone un importante riesgo de salud pública debido a la listeriosis. Objetivo: Estudiar la prevalencia y los niveles de L. monocytogenes en quesos Idiazabal semi-curados de distintos productores del País Vasco, a nivel de consumidor. Metodología: Se analizaron 51 muestras de queso Idiazabal procedentes de 10 establecimientos de venta al público; el muestreo fue aleatorio y estratificado. Los análisis se hicieron según el método de detección y de enumeración del procedimiento estandarizado ISO 11290-1. Resultados y conclusión: Todas las muestras dieron negativo para L. monocytogenes. Sin embargo, el 9,8% dio positivo para Listeria spp., distinta de L. monocytogenes. Las muestras positivas procedían de dos marcas, dos eran quesos naturales y tres ahumados. La presencia de Listeria spss. sugiere que el procesado del queso y la higiene durante el ordeño o durante la fabricación podría ser insuficiente.

BackgroundHuman influenza virus isolates generally grow poorly in embryonated chicken eggs. Hence, gene reassortment of influenza A wild type (wt) viruses is performed with a highly egg adapted donor virus, A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (PR8), to provide the high yield reassortant (HYR) viral 'seeds' for vaccine production. HYR must contain the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of wt virus and one to six 'internal' genes from PR8. Most studies of influenza wt and HYRs have focused on the HA gene. The main objective of this study is the identification of the molecular signature in all eight gene segments of influenza A HYR candidate vaccine seeds associated with high growth in ovo.MethodologyThe genomes of 14 wt parental viruses, 23 HYRs (5 H1N1; 2, 1976 H1N1-SOIV; 2, 2009 H1N1pdm; 2 H2N2 and 12 H3N2) and PR8 were sequenced using the high-throughput sequencing pipeline with big dye terminator chemistry.ResultsSilent and coding mutations were found in all internal genes derived from PR8 with the exception of the M gene. The M gene derived from PR8 was invariant in all 23 HYRs underlining the critical role of PR8 M in high yield phenotype. None of the wt virus derived internal genes had any silent change(s) except the PB1 gene in X-157. The highest number of recurrent silent and coding mutations was found in NS. With respect to the surface antigens, the majority of HYRs had coding mutations in HA; only 2 HYRs had coding mutations in NA.SignificanceIn the era of application of reverse genetics to alter influenza A virus genomes, the mutations identified in the HYR gene segments associated with high growth in ovo may be of great practical benefit to modify PR8 and/or wt virus gene sequences for improved growth of vaccine 'seed' viruses.

Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed for the parasitic mistletoe Phoradendron californicum to investigate to what extent population genetic structure depends on host tree distribution within a highly fragmented landscape. Methods and Results: Fourteen unlinked polymorphic and four monomorphic nuclear microsatellite markers were developed using a genomic shotgun pyrosequencing method. A total of 187 alleles plus four monomorphic loci alleles were found in 98 individuals sampled in three populations from the Sonoran Desert in the Baja California peninsula (Mexico). Loci averaged 13.3 alleles per locus (range 4–28), and observed and expected heterozygosities within populations varied from 0.167–0.879 and 0.364–0.932, respectively. Conclusions: Levels of polymorphism of the reported markers are adequate for studies of diversity and fragmentation in natural populations of this parasitic plant. Cross-species amplifications in P. juniperinum and P. diguetianum only showed four markers that could be useful in P. diguetianum.