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Los paragangliomas son tumores neuroendocrinos benignos infrecuentes que surgen en los ganglios simpáticos o parasimpáticos, teniendo una incidencia de 0.3 a 1 por cada 100.000 habitantes, pueden ser el resultado de alteraciones en más de 15 genes diferentes. Se analiza el caso de un paciente masculino de 35 años de edad, quien presentó parestesia en miembros superiores. Con antecedente de cefalea holocraneana de fuerte intensidad. Al examen físico se evidenció parálisis facial periférica izquierda, salida de secreción a través de oído izquierdo y aumento de volumen en región de cuello izquierdo de consistencia pétrea. Se realizó estudio de imagen tipo resonancia magnética de cráneo donde se evidenció imagen heterogénea difusa, con áreas de necrosis que comprimían ángulo pontocerebeloso del lado izquierdo con extensión a ápex petroso izquierdo, surcos y circunvoluciones borradas en hemisferio cerebeloso izquierdo. En un corte sagital se evidenció imagen hiperintensa extendida a nivel bulboprotuberancial. Se indicó tratamiento médico analgésico, neuromodulador, medidas antiedema cerebral y esquema piramidal con esteroides. Bajo diagnóstico preoperatorio de neoplasia cerebral de fosa posterior fue llevado a mesa quirúrgica para realizar craniectomía suboccipital en la cual el tumor fue resecado parcialmente y se tomó muestra para análisis histopatológico. Los paragangliomas son tumores poco frecuentes de por sí y la presentación cráneo-cervical además de la extensión hallada en este caso es excepcional, pues toma múltiples estructuras neurológicas, vasculares y viscerales que ocasionan la clínica particular presentada y que comprometen con alto riesgo la vida del paciente.

It is widely accepted that episodes of social unrest, conflict, political tensions and policy uncertainty affect the economy. Nevertheless, the real-time dimension of such relationships is less studied, and it remains unclear how to incorporate them in a forecasting framework. This can be partly explained by a certain divide between the economic and political science contributions in this area, as well as the traditional lack of availability of timely high-frequency indicators measuring such phenomena. The latter constraint, though, is becoming less of a limiting factor through the production of text-based indicators. In this paper we assemble a dataset of such monthly measures of what we call “institutional instability”, for three representative emerging market economies: Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. We then forecast quarterly GDP by adding these new variables to a standard macro-forecasting model using different methods. Our results strongly suggest that capturing institutional instability above a broad set of standard high-frequency indicators is useful when forecasting quarterly GDP. We also analyse relative strengths and weaknesses of the approach.

Abstract Mitochondrial dysfunction is reiteratively involved in the pathogenesis of diverse neurodegenerative diseases. Current in vitro and in vivo approaches support that mitochondrial dysfunction is branded by several molecular and cellular defects, whose impact at different levels including the calcium and iron homeostasis, energetic balance and/or oxidative stress, makes it difficult to resolve them collectively given their multifactorial nature. Mitochondrial transfer offers an overall solution since it contains the replacement of damage mitochondria by healthy units. Therefore, this review provides an introducing view on the structure and energy-related functions of mitochondria as well as their dynamics. In turn, we summarize current knowledge on how these features are deregulated in different neurodegenerative diseases, including frontotemporal dementia, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Friedreich ataxia, Alzheimer´s disease, Parkinson´s disease, and Huntington’s disease. Finally, we analyzed current advances in mitochondrial transfer between diverse cell types that actively participate in neurodegenerative processes, and how they might be projected toward developing novel therapeutic strategies.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a central event in the pathogenesis of several degenerative brain disorders. It entails fission and fusion dynamics disruption, progressive decline in mitochondrial clearance, and uncontrolled oxidative stress. Many therapeutic strategies have been formulated to reverse these alterations, including replacing damaged mitochondria with healthy ones. Spontaneous mitochondrial transfer is a naturally occurring process with different biological functions. It comprises mitochondrial donation from one cell to another, carried out through different pathways, such as the formation and stabilization of tunneling nanotubules and Gap junctions and the release of extracellular vesicles with mitochondrial cargoes. Even though many aspects of regulating these mechanisms still need to be discovered, some key enzymatic regulators have been identified. This review summarizes the current knowledge on mitochondrial dysfunction in different neurodegenerative disorders. Besides, we analyzed the usage of mitochondrial transfer as an endogenous revitalization tool, emphasizing the enzyme regulators that govern this mechanism. Going deeper into this matter would be helpful to take advantage of the therapeutic potential of mitochondrial transfer.

Although the egg capsule plays a crucial role in the embryonic development of cephalopods, its ability to protect embryos from Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is unknown. Our study evaluated the photoprotection mechanisms of S. officinalis to UV-B radiation and estimated the ability of the black capsule to act as a physical shield against it. Embryos with and without capsule and juveniles were exposed to four experimental UVB conditions for 55 days. The effects of different UVB doses were evaluated in terms of morphological abnormalities and differences in gene expression between each group. We observed that the development might be severely impaired in embryos exposed to UVB without capsule protection, and these effects were time- and UVB-dose-dependent. In addition, we found variations in gene expression levels (light-sensitive, stress response and DNA repair) in different tissues as a function of UVB doses. We suggest a relationship between morphological abnormalities and the limit of molecular regulation. These results suggest that the quantitative differences in expression are essential for defining the survivability of the embryo face to UVB. Thus, we demonstrated that the egg capsule could ensure successful embryonic development of the cuttlefish S. officinalis even at high doses of UVB.

Background: The M105I point mutation in α-SNAP (Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein-alpha) leads in mice to a complex phenotype known as hyh (hydrocephalus with hop gait), characterized by cortical malformation and hydrocephalus, among other neuropathological features. Studies performed by our laboratory and others support that the hyh phenotype is triggered by a primary alteration in embryonic neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) that leads to a disruption of the ventricular and subventricular zones (VZ/SVZ) during the neurogenic period. Besides the canonical role of α-SNAP in SNARE-mediated intracellular membrane fusion dynamics, it also negatively modulates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity. AMPK is a conserved metabolic sensor associated with the proliferation/differentiation balance in NSPCs.Methods: Brain samples from hyh mutant mice (hydrocephalus with hop gait) (B6C3Fe-a/a-Napahyh/J) were analyzed by light microscopy, immunofluorescence, and Western blot at different developmental stages. In addition, NSPCs derived from WT and hyh mutant mice were cultured as neurospheres for in vitro characterization and pharmacological assays. BrdU labeling was used to assess proliferative activity in situ and in vitro. Pharmacological modulation of AMPK was performed using Compound C (AMPK inhibitor) and AICAR (AMPK activator).Results: α-SNAP was preferentially expressed in the brain, showing variations in the levels of α-SNAP protein in different brain regions and developmental stages. NSPCs from hyh mice (hyh-NSPCs) displayed reduced levels of α-SNAP and increased levels of phosphorylated AMPKα (pAMPKαThr172), which were associated with a reduction in their proliferative activity and a preferential commitment with the neuronal lineage. Interestingly, pharmacological inhibition of AMPK in hyh-NSPCs increased proliferative activity and completely abolished the increased generation of neurons. Conversely, AICAR-mediated activation of AMPK in WT-NSPCs reduced proliferation and boosted neuronal differentiation.Discussion: Our findings support that α-SNAP regulates AMPK signaling in NSPCs, further modulating their neurogenic capacity. The naturally occurring M105I mutation of α-SNAP provokes an AMPK overactivation in NSPCs, thus connecting the α-SNAP/AMPK axis with the etiopathogenesis and neuropathology of the hyh phenotype.

This paper describes the set of Bayesian vector autoregression (BVAR) models that Banco de España uses to project GDP growth rates and to simulate macrofinancial risk scenarios for Brazil and Mexico. The toolkit consists of large benchmark models to produce baseline projections and various smaller satellite models to conduct risk scenarios. We showcase the use of this modeling framework with tailored empirical applications. Given the material importance of Brazil and Mexico to the Spanish economy and banking system, this toolkit contributes to the monitoring of Spain’s international risk exposure.

Introducción: La insuficiencia cardiaca en pacientes con fibrilación auricular no valvular (FANV) es de dos a tres veces más frecuente que en individuos sin FANV. Objetivo: Identificar los factores de riesgo cardiometabólico (FRCM) y el tratamiento antitrombótico de pacientes con FANV e insuficiencia cardiaca con fracción de expulsión reducida (IC-FEr), y determinar si existen diferencias conforme al sexo. Métodos: En forma global y de acuerdo con el sexo se analizaron FRCM, riesgo protrombótico, riesgo de sangrado y terapia antitrombótica. Resultados: De 1423 pacientes con FANV, 336 tuvieron IC-FEr. Las mujeres promediaron mayor edad que los hombres. No hubo diferencia entre los sexos respecto al tipo de FANV o uso de anticoagulantes orales directos. La hipertensión arterial sistémica fue más frecuente en mujeres. Un 3.6 % de los pacientes reportó antecedente de ataque isquémico transitorio y 10 % de evento vascular cerebral, sin diferencias en cuanto al sexo. El porcentaje de hombres con riesgo embólico elevado fue mayor, pero sin tratamiento antitrombótico, en comparación con las mujeres. Conclusiones: Se encontraron diferencias significativas de acuerdo con el sexo en pacientes con FANV e IC-FEr, tanto en FRCM y algunas comorbilidades, como en el tratamiento antitrombótico de acuerdo con el riesgo embólico y de sangrado.

Los aneurismas cerebrales en edad pediátrica son una patología poco frecuente, es importante tomarla en cuenta al evaluar pacientes pediátricos con manifestaciones clínicas características. Suelen localizarse en la circulación anterior, en pacientes masculinos con una edad media de 14.5 años. Se presenta un caso de un aneurisma cerebral del complejo comunicante anterior en un paciente masculino de 10 años de edad con clínica indicativa dada por cefalea de inicio súbito, vómitos incoercibles y disminución del estado de consciencia. Se realizó tomografía computarizada (TC) de cráneo simple donde se evidencia la presencia de hemorragia sub aracnoidea (HSA) Fisher II, se practica angiografía por TC para determinar la etiología del sangrado. El estudio confirmó la presencia de un aneurisma en el complejo comunicante anterior. Se realizó clipaje del aneurisma mediante un abordaje pterional clásico, obteniendo excelentes resultados y una recuperación satisfactoria. Es importante considerar los beneficios de la intervención endovascular como opción de tratamiento en casos semejantes. Brain aneurysms in pediatric age are a rare pathology, it is important to take it into account when evaluating pediatric patients with characteristic clinical manifestations. They usually appear in the anterior circulation, in male patients with a mean age of 14.5 years. A case of a cerebral aneurysm of the anterior communicating complex is presented in a 10-year-old male patient with indicative symptoms as sudden onset headache, incoercible vomiting, and decreased state of consciousness. A simple skull computed tomography (CT) was performed where was evidenced the presence of a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) Fisher II, and a CT angiography was also performed to determine the etiology of the bleeding. The study confirmed the presence of an aneurysm in the anterior communicating complex. Clipping of the aneurysm was performed using a classic pterional approach, obtaining great results and a satisfactory recovery. It is important to consider the benefits of endovascular intervention as a treatment option in similar cases.

Postcricoid vascular alterations are infrequent entities in otorhinolaryngology. Most Postcricoid vascular alterations correspond to anatomical variations of the vascular plexuses that depend on changes in abdominal pressure. CLINICAL CASE: Infant consultation for recurring upper respiratory infections associated with dysphonia and stridor while crying. Physical examination: nasal and oral cavity without pathological findings. Flexible endoscopy: vascularized tumor in postcricoid region, variable with crying. Neck MRI: Hyperintense linear postcricoid image in T2 and STIR sequences. Patient was managed cautiously, evolving with regression of symptoms and progressive regression of vascular tumor. DISCUSSION: Postcricoid vascular anomalies are venous proliferations that resemble a variable vascularized mass with changes in abdominal pressure. These alterations would be secondary to hypopharyngeal venous “cushions” or plexuses that regress with age. The symptoms vary and can present in infants with stridor, dysphonia, apneas, dysphagia, and even slow weight gain. These lesions are identifiable by awake flexible laryngoscopy and are not evidenced by rigid laryngoscopy or imaging under anesthesia unless Valsalva or Trendelenburg maneuvers are used. It is recommended to rule out synchronous lesions in the aerodigestive tract. Differential diagnoses are congenital laryngeal vascular anomalies and postcricoid hemangiomas, which are not altered with pressure changes. Treatment will depend on the severity of the symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Hypopharyngeal venous plexuses are entities that are not much described in literature. They can cause a variety of symptoms and should always be considered in infants with aerodigestive symptoms and postcricoid abnormalities.

La sentencia aporta un elemento más a la delimitación del contenido del derecho de acceso a los cargos públicos recogido en el artículo 23.2 de la Constitución al concluir que, a pesar de que los acuerdos de la mesa o las acciones y omisiones de la presidenta de una Cámara trasladando de día sesiones plenarias ordinarias previstas en el calendario de sesiones, o no incluyendo determinadas iniciativas en sus órdenes del día, puedan suponer una vulneración que afecte al núcleo del ius in officium de los parlamentarios, no puede afirmarse que exista una vulneración en abstracto de las facultades de los parlamentarios, sino que es necesario determinar, en la demanda de la tramitación, de qué iniciativas se vieron privados y en qué términos supuso un menoscabo del ejercicio de su derecho.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects on growth performance, intermediary metabolism and welfare of the inclusion of two commercial microalgae-based ingredients called LB-ChromaBream (LB-CB) and LB-ChromaBream-plus (LB-CBplus) in the diet of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) close to commercial size. For this purpose, fish of ~182 g of initial body mass were fed to satiety (ad libitum) for 41 days with three different diets: (i) CONTROL diet (CTRL), with a commercial-like formulation; (ii) LB-CB diet, with a 10 % inclusion of microalgal product; (iii) LB-CBplus diet, with a 10 % inclusion of the same product but enzymatically hydrolysed to increase the bioavailability of the nutrients. The results obtained show that the use of these microalgal products leads an overall improvement in productive parameters in terms of growth (15 % in SGR) and feed efficiency (11 %), as well as a significant reduction in circulating cortisol with the LB-CBplus diet. Observations on plasma and liver metabolites, and particularly on hepatic metabolic enzymes, collectively indicate that microalgae supplementation of feed lead to a better use of carbohydrates as a source of energy in the liver and other tissues, potentially sparing triglycerides within this tissue, and a channelling hepatic triglycerides to fuels growth. Finally, the specimens fed the supplemented diets experienced a substantial improvement in intestinal health, achieved by longer intestines, a higher transepithelial resistance and better apparent permeability measured by electrophysiological methods, especially those fed LB-CBplus, which could explain the increase in productive performance by improving nutrient assimilation. In conclusion, this study shows that the experimental feeds, especially the one containing biotechnologically treated microalgae, are suitable for improving some important indicators of growth performance and physiological condition of gilthead seabream, thus revealing the potential for their inclusion in new functional feeds for this species at an advanced stage of the production cycle.

Se han estudiado dos acuíferos, llanura costera de Cabo de Gata y delta del río Andarax, en el litoral almeriense. La edad aparente de sus aguas ha sido determinada, lo que ha permitido diferenciar cuatro cuerpos de agua en cada uno de estos acuíferos: agua dulce, interfase, agua marina y paleoagua de mar. Los cuerpos de agua dulce y marina han sido datados como recientes, registrando el paleoagua de mar valores en torno a 10 ka. La interfase muestra una edad intermedia. En la llanura de Cabo de Gata, el paleoagua presenta una salinidad superior al agua de mar, mientras en el delta del Andarax la salinidad es idéntica al agua de mar actual. El contraste de densidades entre los diferentes cuerpos de agua condiciona la geometría y el grado de avance de estos cuerpos en el acuífero. La evolución paleogeográfica ha jugado un papel importante en la configuración actual de estos acuíferos.

Flare frequency distributions represent a key approach to addressing one of the largest problems in solar and stellar physics: determining the mechanism that counterintuitively heats coronae to temperatures that are orders of magnitude hotter than the corresponding photospheres. It is widely accepted that the magnetic field is responsible for the heating, but there are two competing mechanisms that could explain it: nanoflares or Alfvén waves. To date, neither can be directly observed. Nanoflares are, by definition, extremely small, but their aggregate energy release could represent a substantial heating mechanism, presuming they are sufficiently abundant. One way to test this presumption is via the flare frequency distribution, which describes how often flares of various energies occur. If the slope of the power law fitting the flare frequency distribution is above a critical threshold, α = 2 as established in prior literature, then there should be a sufficient abundance of nanoflares to explain coronal heating. We performed >600 case studies of solar flares, made possible by an unprecedented number of data analysts via three semesters of an undergraduate physics laboratory course. This allowed us to include two crucial, but nontrivial, analysis methods: preflare baseline subtraction and computation of the flare energy, which requires determining flare start and stop times. We aggregated the results of these analyses into a statistical study to determine that α = 1.63 ± 0.03. This is below the critical threshold, suggesting that Alfvén waves are an important driver of coronal heating.

Estrogens and estrogen-like molecules can modify the biology of several cell types. Estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) belong to the so-called classical family of estrogen receptors, while the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER-1) represents a non-classical estrogen receptor mainly located in the plasma membrane. As estrogen receptors are ubiquitously distributed, they can modulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival in several tissues and organs, including the central nervous system (CNS). Estrogens can exert neuroprotective roles by acting as anti-oxidants, promoting DNA repair, inducing the expression of growth factors, and modulating cerebral blood flow. Additionally, estrogen-dependent signaling pathways are involved in regulating the balance between proliferation and differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs), thus influencing neurogenic processes. Since several estrogen-based therapies are used nowadays and estrogen-like molecules, including phytoestrogens and xenoestrogens, are omnipresent in our environment, estrogen-dependent changes in cell biology and tissue homeostasis have gained attention in human health and disease. This article provides a comprehensive literature review on the current knowledge of estrogen and estrogen-like molecules and their impact on cell survival and neurodegeneration, as well as their role in NSPCs proliferation/differentiation balance and neurogenesis.

GPER-1 is a novel membrane sited G protein-coupled estrogen receptor. Clinical studies have shown that patients suffering an estrogen receptor α (ERα)/GPER-1 positive, breast cancer have a lower survival rate than those who have developed ERα-positive/GPER-1 negative tumors. Moreover, absence of GPER-1 improves the prognosis of patients treated with tamoxifen, the most used selective estrogen receptor modulator to treat ERα-positive breast cancer. MCF-7 breast cancer cells were continuously treated with 1,000 nM tamoxifen for 7 days to investigate its effect on GPER-1 protein expression, cell proliferation and intracellular [Ca2+]i mobilization, a key signaling pathway. Breast cancer cells continuously treated with tamoxifen, exhibited a robust [Ca2+]i mobilization after stimulation with 1,000 nM tamoxifen, a response that was blunted by preincubation of cells with G15, a commercial GPER-1 antagonist. Continuously treated cells also displayed a high [Ca2+]i mobilization in response to a commercial GPER-1 agonist (G1) and to estrogen, in a magnitude that doubled the response observed in untreated cells and was almost completely abolished by G15. Proliferation of cells continuously treated with tamoxifen and stimulated with 2,000 nM tamoxifen, was also higher than that observed in untreated cells in a degree that was approximately 90% attributable to GPER-1. Finally, prolonged tamoxifen treatment did not increase ERα expression, but did overexpress the kinin B1 receptor, another GPCR, which we have previously shown is highly expressed in breast tumors and increases proliferation of breast cancer cells. Although we cannot fully extrapolate the results obtained in vitro to the patients, our results shed some light on the occurrence of drug resistance in breast cancer patients who are ERα/GPER-1 positive, have been treated with tamoxifen and display low survival rate. Overexpression of kinin B1 receptor may explain the increased proliferative response observed in breast tumors under continuous treatment with tamoxifen.

Background: Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology is used in various applications such as wastewater treatment with the production of electrical energy. The objective of this study was to estimate the biodepuration of oils and fats, the elimination of blue dye brl and bioelectro-characterization in MFCs with Chlorella vulgaris and bacterial community. Results: The operation of MFCs at 32 d showed an increase in bioelectrogenic activity (from 23.17 to 327.67 mW/m2) and in the potential (from 200 to 954 mV), with biodepuration of fats and oils (95%) in the microalgal cathode, and a removal of the chemical oxygen demand COD (anode, 71%, cathode, 78.6%) and the blue dye brl (73%) at the anode, here biofilms were formed by the bacterial community consisting of Actinobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria. Conclusions: These findings suggest that MFCs with C. vulgaris and bacterial community have a simultaneous efficiency in the production of bioelectricity and bioremediation processes, becoming an important source of bioenergy in the future.

The 3D Tune-In Toolkit (3DTI Toolkit) is an open-source standard C++ library which includes a binaural spatialiser. This paper presents the technical details of this renderer, outlining its architecture and describing the processes implemented in each of its components. In order to put this description into context, the basic concepts behind binaural spatialisation are reviewed through a chronology of research milestones in the field in the last 40 years. The 3DTI Toolkit renders the anechoic signal path by convolving sound sources with Head Related Impulse Responses (HRIRs), obtained by interpolating those extracted from a set that can be loaded from any file in a standard audio format. Interaural time differences are managed separately, in order to be able to customise the rendering according the head size of the listener, and to reduce comb-filtering when interpolating between different HRIRs. In addition, geometrical and frequency-dependent corrections for simulating near-field sources are included. Reverberation is computed separately using a virtual loudspeakers Ambisonic approach and convolution with Binaural Room Impulse Responses (BRIRs). In all these processes, special care has been put in avoiding audible artefacts produced by changes in gains and audio filters due to the movements of sources and of the listener. The 3DTI Toolkit performance, as well as some other relevant metrics such as non-linear distortion, are assessed and presented, followed by a comparison between the features offered by the 3DTI Toolkit and those found in other currently available open- and closed-source binaural renderers.

The Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) of ambient vibration measurements is a common tool to explore near surface shear wave velocity (Vs) structure. HVSR is often applied for earthquake risk assessments and civil engineering projects. Ambient vibration signal originates from the combination of a multitude of natural and man-made sources. Ambient vibration sources can be any ground motion inducing phenomena, e.g., ocean waves, wind, industrial activity or road traffic, where each source does not need to be strictly stationary even during short times. Typically, the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is applied to obtain spectral information from the measured time series in order to estimate the HVSR, even though possible non-stationarity may bias the spectra and HVSR estimates. This problem can be alleviated by employing the Hilbert–Huang Transform (HHT) instead of FFT. Comparing 1D inversion results for FFT and HHT-based HVSR estimates from data measured at a well studied, urban, permanent station, we find that HHT-based inversion models may yield a lower data misfit χ2 by up to a factor of 25, a more appropriate Vs model according to available well-log lithology, and higher confidence in the achieved model.

The Campo de Dalías is a coastal plain, which has undergone a significant change in land use and intensive exploitation of groundwater. A series of diverse data has been analyzed: aerial and satellite images (1956–2013), evolution of the water table (1973–2019), and exploitation of different aquifers (1964–2017). The results indicate: (1) increase in the surface area occupied by greenhouses, (2) increase in abstraction of groundwater, and (3) an opposite trend in the piezometric evolution of the two aquifers (deep and shallow). All this has had a significant effect on the evolution of the “Punta Entinas” wetland, which has shown a continuous increase in flooded surface area, especially pronounced since 1994. Its waters have intermediate hydrochemical characteristics between seawater and groundwater and reflect the local influence of groundwater on the wetland. The applied methodology is useful in areas with sustained human activity, land use changes, and intensive groundwater exploitation, and can contribute to the understanding of surface water-groundwater dependence and wetland management.