Comunidades bentonicas del sustrato duro del litoral NE Español, XIII. Vegetacion: diversidad y sociabilidad

A partir de los datos obtenidos en el estudio bionómico del bentos de la costa catalana, exponemos los correspondientes a la vegetación marina. Se comparan los índices de diversidad de las localidades de muestreo en relación con el espacio, la profundidad y las estaciones del año, relacionándolo con el número de especies de Clorófitos, Feófitos y Rodófitos que se han hallado en las muestras estudiadas. Con los valores de las afinidades entre las especies de mayor frecuencia de aparición se ha confeccionado un diagrama, donde aparecen varios grupos de algas que forman comunidades bastante características en algunas localidades de la costa catalana.

The "open" chimney graft technique for juxtarenal aortic aneurysms with discrepant renal arteries.

OBJECTIVES: A straightforward original Chimney Graft (CG) protocol has been developed at our institution in selected cases of juxtarenal aortic aneurysm (JRAA). The aim of this study was to present our clinical experience of consecutive series with use of uncovered self-expanding stent (SES) as "Open Chimney" (OCh) in the endovascular repair (EVAR) of JRAA. METHODS: A standard endograft with suprarenal fixation struts is delivered with its proximal covered edge just below the highest RA in JRAA presenting the ostium of the two renal arteries at a different aortic level and the distance between the highest renal artery and the beginning of the aneurysm (improved landing zone) ≥10 mm. The low-lying renal artery is maintained patent by the OCh graft (standard SES) delivered from left brachial access (6 Fr). All clinical, anatomical, and operative data were prospectively collected and retrieved for the study analysis. RESULTS: From July 2010 to November 2012, OCh EVAR was offered to 22 consecutive patients considered unfit for JRAA open repair. All procedures were technically successful with aneurysm exclusion and patent OCh graft. One small perioperative type Ia endoleak spontaneously disappeared at the 3-month CT control. One patient died because of acute decompensated heart failure. One patient presented a left hemispheric stroke. The median follow-up of 18 months (range 7-35) showed aneurysm exclusion in all patients without type I and III endoleaks, SES stenosis, and/or renal impairment. CONCLUSIONS: OCh-EVAR is a straightforward technique that can be employed in selected cases of JRAA, avoiding the more complex and expensive fenestrated EVAR.

Heterogeneity and event dependence in the analysis of sickness absence

Sickness absence (SA) is an important social, economic and public health issue. Identifying and understanding the determinants, whether biological, regulatory or, health services-related, of variability in SA duration is essential for better management of SA. The conditional frailty model (CFM) is useful when repeated SA events occur within the same individual, as it allows simultaneous analysis of event dependence and heterogeneity due to unknown, unmeasured, or unmeasurable factors. However, its use may encounter computational limitations when applied to very large data sets, as may frequently occur in the analysis of SA duration. To overcome the computational issue, we propose a Poisson-based conditional frailty model (CFPM) for repeated SA events that accounts for both event dependence and heterogeneity. To demonstrate the usefulness of the model proposed in the SA duration context, we used data from all non-work-related SA episodes that occurred in Catalonia (Spain) in 2007, initiated by either a diagnosis of neoplasm or mental and behavioral disorders. As expected, the CFPM results were very similar to those of the CFM for both diagnosis groups. The CPU time for the CFPM was substantially shorter than the CFM. The CFPM is an suitable alternative to the CFM in survival analysis with recurrent events,especially with large databases.

Valor nutritivo do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar amonizado com quatro doses de uréia

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a composição químico-bromatológica e a digestibilidade in vitro do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar, submetido à amonização com uréia. Os tratamentos constaram de quatro doses de uréia, adicionadas ao bagaço de cana-de-açúcar, e adição de 1,2% de soja como fonte de urease. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado. O bagaço foi armazenado em silos de PVC com capacidade para 5,3 L, que foram abertos depois de 110 dias de amonização. Com a adição das doses de uréia ao bagaço, houve aumento linear nos teores de proteína bruta. Os teores de fibra em detergente neutro, fibra em detergente ácido, hemicelulose, celulose, lignina e carboidratos totais diminuíram, enquanto os teores de nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente ácido, nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente neutro, carboidratos não fibrosos, nitrogênio amoniacal e pH aumentaram, significativamente, com a adição de uréia. Nas doses avaliadas, a uréia adicionada ao bagaço promove aumento no conteúdo dos compostos nitrogenados, diminuição dos componentes fibrosos e aumenta a digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca. Estimada pela equação de regressão, a adição de 2,62% de uréia ao bagaço de cana fornece o teor mínimo de proteína bruta para o bom funcionamento do rúmen.

Relation between plaque type, plaque thickness, blood shear stress, and plaque stress in coronary arteries assessed by X-ray Angiography and Intravascular Ultrasound

Purpose: Atheromatic plaque progression is affected, among others phenomena, by biomechanical, biochemical, and physiological factors. In this paper, the authors introduce a novel framework able to provide both morphological (vessel radius, plaque thickness, and type) and biomechanical (wall shear stress and Von Mises stress) indices of coronary arteries. Methods: First, the approach reconstructs the three-dimensional morphology of the vessel from intravascular ultrasound(IVUS) and Angiographic sequences, requiring minimal user interaction. Then, a computational pipeline allows to automatically assess fluid-dynamic and mechanical indices. Ten coronary arteries are analyzed illustrating the capabilities of the tool and confirming previous technical and clinical observations. Results: The relations between the arterial indices obtained by IVUS measurement and simulations have been quantitatively analyzed along the whole surface of the artery, extending the analysis of the coronary arteries shown in previous state of the art studies. Additionally, for the first time in the literature, the framework allows the computation of the membrane stresses using a simplified mechanical model of the arterial wall. Conclusions: Circumferentially (within a given frame), statistical analysis shows an inverse relation between the wall shear stress and the plaque thickness. At the global level (comparing a frame within the entire vessel), it is observed that heavy plaque accumulations are in general calcified and are located in the areas of the vessel having high wall shear stress. Finally, in their experiments the inverse proportionality between fluid and structural stresses is observed.

Relation between plaque type, plaque thickness, blood shear stress, and plaque stress in coronary arteries assessed by X-ray Angiography and Intravascular Ultrasound

Purpose: Atheromatic plaque progression is affected, among others phenomena, by biomechanical, biochemical, and physiological factors. In this paper, the authors introduce a novel framework able to provide both morphological (vessel radius, plaque thickness, and type) and biomechanical (wall shear stress and Von Mises stress) indices of coronary arteries. Methods: First, the approach reconstructs the three-dimensional morphology of the vessel from intravascular ultrasound(IVUS) and Angiographic sequences, requiring minimal user interaction. Then, a computational pipeline allows to automatically assess fluid-dynamic and mechanical indices. Ten coronary arteries are analyzed illustrating the capabilities of the tool and confirming previous technical and clinical observations. Results: The relations between the arterial indices obtained by IVUS measurement and simulations have been quantitatively analyzed along the whole surface of the artery, extending the analysis of the coronary arteries shown in previous state of the art studies. Additionally, for the first time in the literature, the framework allows the computation of the membrane stresses using a simplified mechanical model of the arterial wall. Conclusions: Circumferentially (within a given frame), statistical analysis shows an inverse relation between the wall shear stress and the plaque thickness. At the global level (comparing a frame within the entire vessel), it is observed that heavy plaque accumulations are in general calcified and are located in the areas of the vessel having high wall shear stress. Finally, in their experiments the inverse proportionality between fluid and structural stresses is observed.

Salomé o la tentación irresistible

Salomé es la danza, la tentación irresistible. La hija de Herodías se convierte en un personaje literario universal gracias al arte de Flaubert y, sobre todo, al de Óscar Wilde. Al comienzo de su pieza trágica, la figura de Salomé se funde con la de la luna, ávida de muerte. La obra se tradujo y se representó en España a comienzos del siglo XX, y en 1910 se puso en escena la ópera de Strauss inspirada en ella. Esa circunstancia permite ver la relación existente entre la Salomé de Wilde y la luna, bailarina mortal, del primer romance del Romancero gitano de García Lorca. A su vez Alberti se inspiraría en este poema para crear su «madrigal dramático de Ardiente - y - fría», de Marinero en tierra. Los grandes creadores, como abejas, liban en las flores de sus lecturas para crear su propia miel.

Cultivo do mirtilo: atualizações e desempenho inicial de variedades de baixa exigência em frio no Estado de Säo Paulo

A produção comercial de mirtilos na América do Sul tem passado por mudanças importantes nos últimos anos, em função do aumento da oferta de frutos frescos dos principais países produtores, causando forte queda de preços em plena safra, entre os meses de dezembro e fevereiro. Uma alternativa para esta situação é a produção de mirtileiros de maturação precoce ou muito tardia, fora da época de meia-estação, caracterizada pelos menores preços da fruta. Em 2010, foram introduzidas no Brasil novas variedades de mirtileiros de baixa exigência em frio desenvolvidas pela Universidade da Flórida, que podem ser cultivadas em regiões quentes e apresentam uma frutificação mais precoce, quando comparadas com as variedades tradicionalmente cultivadas no Brasil. Essas novas variedades apresentam grande potencial para a produção precoce de mirtilos no País em regiões sem frio hibernal, aumentando significativamente a rentabilidade da cultura. Para viabilizar esta produção, é necessário validar estratégias de manejo para estas variedades, devido à falta de informação técnica sobre seu cultivo nas condições edafoclimáticas brasileiras. Atualmente, estäo sendo conduzidas as primeiras pesquisas fitotécnicas no Estado de Säo Paulo para avaliar o crescimento e a produção destas variedades na ausência total de frio, situação de ocorrência particular em poucos países produtores do mundo.

Standardized evaluation methodology and reference database for evaluating IVUS image segmentation

This paper describes an evaluation framework that allows a standardized and quantitative comparison of IVUS lumen and media segmentation algorithms. This framework has been introduced at the MICCAI 2011 Computing and Visualization for (Intra)Vascular Imaging (CVII) workshop, comparing the results of eight teams that participated. We describe the available data-base comprising of multi-center, multi-vendor and multi-frequency IVUS datasets, their acquisition, the creation of the reference standard and the evaluation measures. The approaches address segmentation of the lumen, the media, or both borders; semi- or fully-automatic operation; and 2-D vs. 3-D methodology. Three performance measures for quantitative analysis have been proposed. The results of the evaluation indicate that segmentation of the vessel lumen and media is possible with an accuracy that is comparable to manual annotation when semi-automatic methods are used, as well as encouraging results can be obtained also in case of fully-automatic segmentation. The analysis performed in this paper also highlights the challenges in IVUS segmentation that remains to be solved.

Different Effects of BORIS/CTCFL on Stemness Gene Expression, Sphere Formation and Cell Survival in Epithelial Cancer Stem Cells.

Cancer stem cells are cancer cells characterized by stem cell properties and represent a small population of tumor cells that drives tumor development, progression, metastasis and drug resistance. To date, the molecular mechanisms that generate and regulate cancer stem cells are not well defined. BORIS (Brother of Regulator of Imprinted Sites) or CTCFL (CTCF-like) is a DNA-binding protein that is expressed in normal tissues only in germ cells and is re-activated in tumors. Recent evidences have highlighted the correlation of BORIS/CTCFL expression with poor overall survival of different cancer patients. We have previously shown an association of BORIS-expressing cells with stemness gene expression in embryonic cancer cells. Here, we studied the role of BORIS in epithelial tumor cells. Using BORIS-molecular beacon that was already validated, we were able to show the presence of BORIS mRNA in cancer stem cell-enriched populations (side population and spheres) of cervical, colon and breast tumor cells. BORIS silencing studies showed a decrease of sphere formation capacity in breast and colon tumor cells. Importantly, BORIS-silencing led to down-regulation of hTERT, stem cell (NANOG, OCT4, SOX2 and BMI1) and cancer stem cell markers (ABCG2, CD44 and ALDH1) genes. Conversely, BORIS-induction led to up-regulation of the same genes. These phenotypes were observed in cervical, colon and invasive breast tumor cells. However, a completely different behavior was observed in the non-invasive breast tumor cells (MCF7). Indeed, these cells acquired an epithelial mesenchymal transition phenotype after BORIS silencing. Our results demonstrate that BORIS is associated with cancer stem cell-enriched populations of several epithelial tumor cells and the different phenotypes depend on the origin of tumor cells.

The Effect of Two Speed Endurance Training Regimes on Performance of Soccer Players.

In order to better understand the specificity of training adaptations, we compared the effects of two different anaerobic training regimes on various types of soccer-related exercise performances. During the last 3 weeks of the competitive season, thirteen young male professional soccer players (age 18.5±1 yr, height 179.5±6.5 cm, body mass 74.3±6.5 kg) reduced the training volume by ~20% and replaced their habitual fitness conditioning work with either speed endurance production (SEP; n = 6) or speed endurance maintenance (SEM; n = 7) training, three times per wk. SEP training consisted of 6-8 reps of 20-s all-out running bouts followed by 2 min of passive recovery, whereas SEM training was characterized by 6-8 x 20-s all-out efforts interspersed with 40 s of passive recovery. SEP training reduced (p<0.01) the total time in a repeated sprint ability test (RSAt) by 2.5%. SEM training improved the 200-m sprint performance (from 26.59±0.70 to 26.02±0.62 s, p<0.01) and had a likely beneficial impact on the percentage decrement score of the RSA test (from 4.07±1.28 to 3.55±1.01%) but induced a very likely impairment in RSAt (from 83.81±2.37 to 84.65±2.27 s). The distance covered in the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test level 2 was 10.1% (p<0.001) and 3.8% (p<0.05) higher after SEP and SEM training, respectively, with possibly greater improvements following SEP compared to SEM. No differences were observed in the 20- and 40-m sprint performances. In conclusion, these two training strategies target different determinants of soccer-related physical performance. SEP improved repeated sprint and high-intensity intermittent exercise performance, whereas SEM increased muscles' ability to maximize fatigue tolerance and maintain speed development during both repeated all-out and continuous short-duration maximal exercises. These results provide new insight into the precise nature of a stimulus necessary to improve specific types of athletic performance in trained young soccer players.

Early Recurrence and Cerebral Bleeding in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation: effect of Anticoagulation and Its Timing: the RAF Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The best time for administering anticoagulation therapy in acute cardioembolic stroke remains unclear. This prospective cohort study of patients with acute stroke and atrial fibrillation, evaluated (1) the risk of recurrent ischemic event and severe bleeding; (2) the risk factors for recurrence and bleeding; and (3) the risks of recurrence and bleeding associated with anticoagulant therapy and its starting time after the acute stroke. METHODS: The primary outcome of this multicenter study was the composite of stroke, transient ischemic attack, symptomatic systemic embolism, symptomatic cerebral bleeding and major extracranial bleeding within 90 days from acute stroke. RESULTS: Of the 1029 patients enrolled, 123 had 128 events (12.6%): 77 (7.6%) ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack or systemic embolism, 37 (3.6%) symptomatic cerebral bleeding, and 14 (1.4%) major extracranial bleeding. At 90 days, 50% of the patients were either deceased or disabled (modified Rankin score ≥3), and 10.9% were deceased. High CHA2DS2-VASc score, high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, large ischemic lesion and type of anticoagulant were predictive factors for primary study outcome. At adjusted Cox regression analysis, initiating anticoagulants 4 to 14 days from stroke onset was associated with a significant reduction in primary study outcome, compared with initiating treatment before 4 or after 14 days: hazard ratio 0.53 (95% confidence interval 0.30-0.93). About 7% of the patients treated with oral anticoagulants alone had an outcome event compared with 16.8% and 12.3% of the patients treated with low molecular weight heparins alone or followed by oral anticoagulants, respectively (P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Acute stroke in atrial fibrillation patients is associated with high rates of ischemic recurrence and major bleeding at 90 days. This study has observed that high CHA2DS2-VASc score, high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, large ischemic lesions, and type of anticoagulant administered each independently led to a greater risk of recurrence and bleedings. Also, data showed that the best time for initiating anticoagulation treatment for secondary stroke prevention is 4 to 14 days from stroke onset. Moreover, patients treated with oral anticoagulants alone had better outcomes compared with patients treated with low molecular weight heparins alone or before oral anticoagulants.

Voltammetric determination of sibutramine in beverages and in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple and sensitive method has been proposed for the determination of sibutramine-HCl in energy drinks, green tea and pharmaceutical formulations using differential pulse voltammetry performed on a hanging mercury drop electrode. In the chosen experimental condition (Mcllvaine pH 4.0 buffer, 50 mV pulse amplitude and 40 mV s-1 scan velocity), sibutramine-HCl presented a reversible behavior and a peak maximum at -80 mV. Detection limit was 0.4 mg L-1 and the working linear range extended up to 33.3 mg L-1 (r = 0.99). Analysis of real and fortified samples enabled recoveries between 91 and 102%. The electroanalytical method was compared with a HPLC method which indicated it accuracy.