Search

Summary Background Asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2 can be a vehicle for transmission of the infection. This fact is of particular importance in the case of healthcare workers (HCWs). Design Cross-sectional study in HCWs in a medium size hospital in the South of Spain. Methods Between 15 and 25 April 2020, naso- and oropharyngeal PCR determination was performed together with IgG and IgM antibody determination by immunochromatography to the HCWs of the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella of the units involved in patient care with COVID-19: Emergencies, Intensive Care and Anesthesia, Internal Medicine and Pneumology. Other units not directly involved in the care of these patients were offered to participate. On the day of sampling, a health questionnaire was answered, reporting symptoms on the same day and in the previous 14 days. Results Four hundred and ninety-eight HCWs were studied. Two individuals were detected with PCR for SARS-CoV2 positive. Both were asymptomatic on the day of sampling, but one of them had had a COVID-19 compatible picture in the previous two weeks and had positive IgG and IgM; therefore, only one subject was truly asymptomatic carrier (0.2%). Nine workers with positive IgG (1.8%) were detected. Conclusions The prevalence of asymptomatic carriers among health workers of the services directly involved in the care of patients with COVID-19 was very low in our center. This type of strategy can be one more tool in controlling the pandemic.

By using microcosm enclosures containing brackish water (6000 µS cm-1) and natural surface sediment from an hypertrophic aquatic ecosystem, this study assessed the effects of adding iron (Fe) magnetic microparticles (MPs) on water quality, with special focus on P concentrations in water column and in the sediment. Two different treatments were considered for a constant 85:1 MPs:PMobile molar ratio: T-W, where MPs were applied above the surface layer of water, and T-S, where MPs were added directly above the sediment. Our study demonstrated the convenience of adding MPs for reducing both P concentrations in lake water and lake sediment. Both, T-W and T-S exhibited a reduction of 68 ± 6% in dissolved inorganic P concentration (DIP) on average for a 70-days oxic period and a reduction of 80 ± 8% (T-W) and 80 ± 4% (T-S) for a 5-days anoxic period. MPs also decreased reactive silicate (Si) concentration approx. by 50% on average for both periods whereas dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was only reduced by 15% after 24 h of MPs addition. Despite the drastic reduction in DIP concentration due to MPs addition, chlorophyll a (Chl a) was not reduced because total P (TP) concentration after treatments (> 200 µg L-1; before treatments: > 700 µg L-1) was still higher than that required (0.05–0.1 mg L-1) to see changes in biological community. P bound to Al oxides, clay minerals and humic substances (P→NaOH) and easily degradable organic P (Org-PLabile) showed a reduction of 15% and 12%, respectively in T-S compared to control. P bound to humic substances (P→NaOH, Humic) was reduced by 11-22% in both treatments. Finally, considering the efficiency in P and MPs removal in both treatments (T-W and T-S), we recommend T-W treatment for a future whole-lake application to ensure the effectiveness of P export (in water and sediment) and the recovery of MPs., This work was supported by Junta de Andalucía projects P10-RNM-6630 and P11-FQM-7074 (Proyectos de Excelencia, Spain), MINECO CTM 2013-46951-R, MAT 2013-44429-R and PCIN 2015-051 projects (Spain) and by the European Regional De-velopment Fund (ERDF).

The adult Drosophila midgut is an excellent model, in which to address how stem cell identity is defined and maintained, due to its simple structure, powerful genetics and similarity to the mammalian intestine. The epithelium turnover is carried out by multipotent intestinal stem cells (ISCs), which proliferate throughout life, renewing and generating transient committed cells called enteroblasts (EBs), which differentiate either into enterocytes (ECs) or enteroendocrine cells (EEs). The regulation for the progression from ISC to a terminally differentiated cell includes epigenetic mechanisms, however little is known about it in this specific stem cell system. In this study, I analyzed the distribution pattern of the histone H3 variant CENP-A in the adult Drosophila midgut. CENP-A is the epigenetic mark of centromeres, which identify the specific chromatin regions that mediates spindle attachment during chromosome segregation. Even though centromeres orchestrate chromosome inheritance, their positions on chromosomes are primarily specified epigenetically rather than by a specific DNA sequence in multicellular organisms. Employing different strategies, I found that CENP-A is asymmetrically inherited in cells of the midgut epithelium, where previously synthesized (‘old’) CENP-A is retained specifically in ISCs. Remarkably, long-term experiments revealed that CENP-A can persist in ISCs for more than 20 days. The stability and persistency of CENP-A supports the idea that CENP-A could act as an epigenetic mark responsible for regulating stem cell properties. Analyzing the distribution of this histone variant in somatic cells provided evidence that the asymmetric distribution of CENP-A is a mechanism specific of stem cells. In contrast to CENP-A, the histone variant H3.3 does not exhibit asymmetry during ISC division. CENP-A and its loading factor CAL1 have always been studied in the context of cell division. However, data from this study suggest that CENP-A may play a role in non-dividing cells as well. I could show that the depletion of inner kinetochore proteins in the non-dividing committed progenitor cells leads to the loss of these cell types, indicating that CENP-A and CAL1 are important for EBs maintenance and differentiation. ECs also seem to be affected by the depletion of kinetochore proteins, ECs undergo endocycles, that are also characteristic for salivary glands, follicle cells and ovarian nurse cells. Cells of salivary glands lacking CAL1 failed to undergo endoreduplication and correct S-phase progression. Taken all together, I propose a novel role of the histone H3 variant CENP-A in stemness, by which it contributes to the maintenance of intestinal stem cell identity. Furthermore, CENP-A and other inner kinetochore proteins are also important in non-dividing differentiated cells. Specifically, I identified CAL1 as a possible regulator of endocycle progression.

The growth of human populations has resulted in the expansion of metropolitan areas and changes in land use, both of which affect watersheds and streams. The ecological integrity of streams is likely to be negatively affected by urbanisation, compromising freshwater ecosystem services. The aim of this study was to assess how efficient structural and functional indicators are in evaluating the ecological conditions of water in urban stream ecosystems. Two urban streams crossing the city and one stream crossing a suburban area of Coimbra, Portugal were selected. Total impervious area (TIA) was used as an indicator of urbanisation. Physical and chemical parameters of water were measured and analysed within the Water Framework Directive (WFD/2000/60/EC). Benthic macroinvertebrates were used as structural indicators, and the IBMWP biotic index (modified) and the Portuguese IPtIS index were calculated. The decomposition rates of oak (Quercus robur) and alder (Alnus glutinosa) leaves were used as indicators of functional quality. Biotic indices and litter decomposition rates indicated poor ecological conditions in the urban streams compared to the suburban stream, consistent with the degree of urbanisation. The decrease in ecological quality in urban streams most likely reflected decreases in dissolved oxygen and increases in water temperature and conductivity. We emphasise (a) the need to combine physical and chemical data with biological data and (b) the high performance of a novel functional indicator based on litter breakdown rate as an accurate, efficient and integrative measure of ecological integrity in urban streams. El crecimiento de la población humana en las últimas décadas ha provocado el aumento de las áreas urbanas y cambios en los usos del suelo que afectan a las cuencas hidrográficas y a sus ríos. Es probable que la integridad ecológica de los ríos urbanos se vea afectada negativamente, comprometiendo los servicios ecosistémicos proporcionados por las aguas dulces. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el rendimiento entre diferentes metodologías en la evaluación química y ecológica del agua en ríos urbanos. Se han seleccionado dos ríos urbanos que cruzan la ciudad de Coimbra, Portugal, y un río que cruza un área suburbana. Como indicador de urbanización se us'o el área total impermeable (TIA). Se han utilizado parámetros físico-químicos que se han analizado siguiendo la Directiva Marco del Agua (2000/60/EC). Como indicadores estructurales se han utilizado los macroinvertebrados bentónicos, calculándose el índice biológico IBMWP (modificado) y el índice IPtIS portugués. Como indicadores funcionales de la calidad ecológica se han usado las tasas de descomposición de hojarasca de roble (Quercus robur L.) y aliso (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertner). Los parámetros físicos y químicos de todos los ríos indicaron "buena calidad" según los parámetros de calidad nacionales y la Directiva Marco del Agua. Sin embargo, los indicadores biológicos y las tasas de descomposición de hojarasca indicaron malas condiciones ecol'ogicas en los ríos urbanos comparados con el río en el área suburbana coincidiendo también con el grado de urbanización. Esto sugiere que los indicadores biológicos (estructurales y funcionales) proporcionan información más temprana, precisa e integrada del sistema que las medidas de la química del agua que no reflejan el valor ecológico de las aguas, su calidad o los impactos ecológicos potenciales. En el estudio se hace especial énfasis en (a) la necesidad de combinar datos físico-químicos con medidas biológicas y (b) la elevada eficiencia de la descomposición como indicador preciso de la integridad ecológica y calidad ambiental en un número creciente de ríos urbanos.

Objetivou-se verificar a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii em suínos criados e abatidos no Estado da Bahia. Foram coletadas e examinadas 465 amostras de sangue de suínos provenientes de criações de diferentes locais desse estado. Para a pesquisa de anticorpos anti-T. gondii, foi utilizada a técnica de Imunoadsorção Enzimática (ELISA) e considerados positivos todos os animais com títulos iguais ou maiores que 1:16. Desses, 18,27% (85/465) foram positivos para anticorpos anti-T. gondii, sendo 30,76% (24/78) em Ilhéus, 18,10% (21/116) em Itabuna e 14,76% (40/271) em Simões Filho. Foram observadas diferenças significativas quanto ao sexo dos animais (p = 0,0171), ao sistema de criação (p = 0,0002) e à procedência dos animais (p = 0,0278) no município de Itabuna. Anticorpos anti-T. gondii foram encontrados nos animais estudados, podendo ser estes animais fonte de infecção para a população humana local. This study was performed to verify the occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in swine raised and slaughtered in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Four hundred sixty five swine blood samples from farms of different cities had been collected and examined. Anti-T. gondii antibodies was detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and considered positive all the animals with equal or bigger headings than 1:16. From these, 18.27% (85/465) of total sample were positive for T. gondii, 30.76% (24) in Ilhéus, 18.10% (21/116) in Itabuna and 14.76% (40/271) in Simões Filho. Significant differences were observed regarding animal sex (p = 0.0171), raising system (p = 0.0002) and origin of the animals (p = 0.0278) in the city of Itabuna. The occurrence of anti-T. gondii antibodies shows that swine can be a source of infection for the local human population.

Hotel de viajeros, estación de f.f.c.c. y recinto ferial. AVE Albacete