Memory for Spatial Locations: An Eye-Tracking Study

Working memory is the ability to store information while also using it to process cognitive tasks. Working memory has very limited capacity. Ropeter and Pauen (2013) found that that infants who had higher working memory also had higher habituation and dishabituation responses compared to infants who had lower scores on working memory. Visuo-spatial tasks are very different from one another; some give greater spatial cues while others might be more complex and may require different spatial working memory capacities. Studies have found sex differences in performance on spatial tasks in subjects as young as four months old (Moore & Johnson, 2008; Quinn & Liben 2008). The present study involved familiarizing infants between 10 months and 24-months with a target object based on Tzuriel and Egozi’s (2010). Stimuli consisted of a house oriented at one of three possible angles, with rattles in 1, 2, or 3 of the windows. In the test trial, infants were shown the same target object during the familiarization phase along with the mirror image of the target object. Our study examines a set of variables thought to affect 13- and 20- month-olds’ ability to represent and remember spatial locations of objects, including the number of objects and degree of rotation of the target object. Our results revealed no significant sex difference in preference between familiar and novel images after familiarization, even when controlling for age. In addition, there were no significant moderating effects of angle of rotation or number of objects presented. Our results suggest that the sex differences observed in mental rotation are not present in infants as early as 20 months. This supports the argument that boys and girls have differential spatial experiences, which may explain sex differences in mental rotation in later years

Fungal diversity, woody debris, and wood decomposition in managed and unmanaged Patagonian Nothofagus pumilio forests

Fungal diversity, woody debris, and wood decomposition were assessed in Nothofagus pumilio forests with and without forest management (controls) in Argentina, and were related with the forest structure and microclimate. We established a wood decomposition assay to determine mass loss of branches and twigs in two decay classes (1, incipient and 2, intermediate decay stage), and used generalized linear mixed-effects models to evaluate whether fungal diversity and mass loss differed between treatments (managed forests and controls). We found no differences in richness nor in abundance between treatments, and their community composition was similar. However, Botryobasidium vagum, Phanerochaete velutina, and Sistotrema brinkmanii were more abundant in managed forests, and Amyloathelia aspera was more abundant in controls. Branches in the intermediate decay stage showed greater mass loss in managed forests than in controls, but mass loss of the other debris types did not differ between treatments. The volume of coarse woody debris was greater in managed forests than in controls, and had a positive effect on fungal richness. Our results indicate that N. pumilio forest management did not generate evident changes in fungal diversity, or in wood decomposition after 20 years of the forest management. However, the higher mass loss of branches in the intermediate decay stage observed in managed forests suggests that there were some factors operating in those forests in the past which may have accelerated decomposition. This highlights the need for studies evaluating changes in canopy cover, microclimate, and fungal community, including potential key species, in the short term and the long term after forest management.Fil: Gallo, Ana Laura. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Silva, Patricia Valeria. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: López Bernal, P.. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; ArgentinaFil: Moretto, Alicia Susana. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Greslebin, Alina Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; Argentin

Anemia de diamond-blackfan

Diamond-Blackfan anemia is a rare, congenital, autosomal dominant disease in which the main defect is a mutation in a ribosomal protein. It is characterized by erythroid aplasia that results in normochromic macrocytic anemia, this disease begins in childhood and associates congenital malformations and susceptibility to malignancies. The diagnosis is based on clinical and molecular features. The initial treatment is blood transfusions and corticosteroids; but currently the only known curative treatment is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a compatible donor.La anemia de Diamond-Blackfan es una enfermedad infrecuente, congénita, autosómica dominante, en la que el defecto principal es la mutación en una proteína ribosomal. Se caracteriza por una aplasia eritroide que da como resultado una anemia macrocítica normocrómica de inicio en la infancia y asocia malformaciones congénitas y susceptibilidad a padecer malignidades. El diagnóstico está basado en factores clínicos y moleculares. El tratamiento inicial son transfusiones sanguíneas y corticoesteriodes; pero en la actualidad el único tratamiento curativo conocido es el trasplante alogénico de células madre hematopoyéticas de un donador compatible

Rapid sequence intubation: literature review

La vía aérea es una de las prioridades en un paciente crítico y su disfunción causa un aumento en la morbilidad y mortalidad en estos pacientes. La secuencia de intubación rápida es un proceso utilizado para asegurar la vía aérea en pacientes con riesgo elevado de broncoaspiración y regurgitación, mediante la colocación de un tubo endotraqueal en salas de emergencias y de operaciones. El éxito de una intubación rápida requiere del seguimiento de pasos específicos como lo son la preparación del equipo necesario, preoxigenación, posicionamiento del paciente e indudablemente la capacitación y actualización del personal médico.The airway is one of the priorities in a critically ill patient and its dysfunction causes an increase in morbidity and mortality in these patients. Rapid intubation sequence is a process used to secure the airway in patients at high risk for bronchoaspiration and regurgitation by placing an endotracheal tube in emergency and operating rooms. Successful rapid intubation requires specific steps to be followed, such as preparing the necessary equipment, pre-oxygenation, positioning the patient, and undoubtedly training and updating medical personnel

Tratamiento médico de la enfermedad aórtica en el síndrome de Marfán

Marfan Syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease that predominantly affects the cardiovascular system, however, it also affects other systems, such as the skeletal muscle, the pulmonary system, and vision. Marfan Syndrome is caused by a mutation in the FBN-1 gene that encodes the fibrillin 1 protein, which generates a dysfunction in the contractility of the muscle cell and a decrease in the tensile strength of the aortic tissue, affecting the normal function and integrity of the walls of the blood vessels. It is for this reason that aortic disease is the most frequent and fatal complication in patients with Marfan Syndrome, mainly caused by the aneurysm and dissection of the aorta, which usually occurs in the ascending zone of the same. Other cardiovascular complications include valvular heart disease, such as the bicuspid aortic valve (the most common congenital heart defect), high blood pressure (which occurs mostly in adulthood), and in cases of rapidly progressive Marfan Syndrome, heart failure in boys and girls. Arterial hypertension is the main risk factor for presenting an aortic event in a person with this pathology, since the dilation of the aortic root is progressive, the use of antihypertensive drugs has been of great importance in patients with Marfan Syndrome, mainly beta blockers and angiotensin II receptor antagonists. The objective of the use of these drugs is to reduce the risk of progression of aortic root dilation, avoiding the formation of aneurysms and dissection of the aorta, by lowering systemic blood pressure and by controlling cardiac inotropism.El Síndrome de Marfán es una patología autosómica dominante que afecta predominantemente el sistema cardiovascular, sin embargo, también afecta otros órganos y sistemas, como el músculo esquelético, el sistema pulmonar y la visión. Existe una mutación en el gen FBN-1 que codifica la proteína fibrilina 1, que genera una disfunción en la contractilidad de la célula muscular y disminución en la fuerza tensil del tejido aórtico principalmente, afectando la función e integridad normal de las paredes de los vasos sanguíneos. Es por esta razón que la enfermedad aórtica es la complicación más frecuente y mortal en los pacientes con Síndrome de Marfán, principalmente causado por el aneurisma y disección de aorta, que usualmente ocurre en la zona ascendente de la misma. Otras complicaciones cardiovasculares son las valvulopatías, como la válvula aórtica bicúspide, que es el defecto cardiaco congénito más frecuente, la insuficiencia cardiaca en niños y niñas con enfermedad rápidamente progresiva y la hipertensión arterial, que se presenta mayormente en la adultez. La hipertensión arterial es el principal factor de riesgo para presentar un evento aórtico en una persona con esta patología, ya que la dilatación de la raíz de la aorta es progresiva, por lo que el uso de antihipertensivos ha sido de gran importancia en los y las pacientes, principalmente los beta bloqueadores y antagonistas del receptor de angiotensina II. El objetivo del uso de estos medicamentos es disminuir el riesgo de progresión de dilatación de la raíz de la aorta, evitando la formación de aneurismas y disección de aorta, al disminuir la presión arterial sistémica y al controlar el inotropismo cardiaco

Identificación y análisis de instruments de planeación y gestión territorial y paisajística para promover la conectividad del paisaje urbano y la conservación de la biodiversidad en Brasil

Connectivity plays an essential role in the urban landscape, facilitating the movement of organisms, genetic exchange, and other ecological flows that are fundamental to the survival of species and the provision of ecosystem services on which humans depend. To promote and restore connectivity and efficiently protect biodiversity, it is necessary, among other things, to develop and apply tools, which, when it comes to territorial and landscape planning and management, can be of various natures and have various classifications in terms of their potential to influence the activities of the agents that shape the territory and the landscape. Based on these premises, this article aims to identify and analyze, through bibliographic and documentary research, some of these instruments, especially those that can contribute to maintaining and restoring the connectivity of the urban landscape and the conservation of Brazilian biodiversity. It is hoped that this study can help public managers, urban planners, landscape architects and other related professionals to develop and implement instruments for this purpose in the practice of territorial and landscape planning and management.La conectividad desempeña un papel esencial en el paisaje, facilitando el movimiento de organismos, el intercambio genético y otros flujos ecológicos que son fundamentales para la supervivencia de las especies y para la prestación de los servicios ecosistémicos de los que dependen los seres humanos. Para promover y restaurar la conectividad y proteger eficazmente la biodiversidad, es necesario, entre otras cuestiones, el desarrollo y la aplicación de instrumentos que, cuando se trata de la planificación y la gestión territorial y paisajística, pueden ser de diversa naturaleza y tener varias clasificaciones, con respecto a su potencial para influir en las actividades de los agentes que conforman el territorio y el paisaje. Partiendo de estas premisas, este artículo pretende identificar y analizar, a través de una investigación bibliográfica y documental, algunos de estos instrumentos, especialmente aquellos que pueden contribuir a mantener y restaurar la conectividad del paisaje y la conservación de la biodiversidad brasileña. Se espera que este estudio pueda ayudar a los gestores públicos, los urbanistas, los arquitectos paisajistas y otros profesionales afines a desarrollar y aplicar instrumentos con este fin en la práctica de la planificación y la gestión del territorio y el paisaje.

Surgical treatment of aortobronchial fistula after thoracic endograft failure

Endovascular stent grafting has been recently considered as a less invasive alternative to either medical therapy or open surgical treatment for many patients with descending thoracic aortic disease. Late complications are rarely described in literature. Herein, we described the occurrence of an aorto-bronchial fistula and a retro-A dissection in a 73-year-old man after stent-grafting for a penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU) of the descending thoracic aorta and the successful surgical technique adopted in order to remove the stent-graft

Parasite

We report the case of an 82-year-old patient, hospitalized for malaise. Her clothes were infested by numerous insects and the entomological analysis identified them as being Cimex lectularius (bed bugs). The history of the patient highlighted severe cognitive impairment. The biological assessment initially showed a profound microcytic, aregenerative, iron deficiency anemia. A vitamin B12 deficiency due to pernicious anemia (positive intrinsic factor antibodies) was also highlighted, but this was not enough to explain the anemia without macrocytosis. Laboratory tests, endoscopy and a CT scan eliminated a tumor etiology responsible for occult bleeding. The patient had a mild itchy rash which was linked to the massive colonization by the bed bugs. The C. lectularius bite is most often considered benign because it is not a vector of infectious agents. Far from trivial, a massive human colonization by bed bugs may cause such a hematic depletion that severe microcytic anemia may result

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Individual and combined soy isoflavones exert differential effects on metastatic cancer progression

To investigate the effects soy isoflavones in established cancers, the role of genistein, daidzein, and combined soy isoflavones was studied on progression of subcutaneous tumors in nude mice created from green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagged-MDA-MB-435 cells. Following tumor establishment, mice were gavaged with vehicle or genistein or daidzein at 10 mg/kg body weight (BW) or a combination of genistein (10 mg/kg BW), daidzein (9 mg/kg BW), and glycitein (1 mg/kg BW) three times per week. Tumor progression was quantified by whole body fluorescence image analysis followed by microscopic image analysis of excised organs for metastases. Results show that daidzein increased while genistein decreased mammary tumor growth by 38 and 33% respectively, compared to vehicle. Daidzein increased lung and heart metastases while genistein decreased bone and liver metastases. Combined soy isoflavones did not affect primary tumor growth but increased metastasis to all organs tested, which include lung, liver, heart, kidney, and bones. Phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3-K) pathway real time PCR array analysis and western blotting of excised tumors demonstrate that genistein significantly downregulated 10/84 genes, including the Rho GTPases RHOA, RAC1, and CDC42 and their effector PAK1. Daidzein significantly upregulated 9/84 genes that regulate proliferation and protein synthesis including EIF4G1, eIF4E, and survivin protein levels. Combined soy treatment significantly increased gene and protein levels of EIF4E and decreased TIRAP gene expression. Differential regulation of Rho GTPases, initiation factors, and survivin may account for the disparate responses of breast cancers to genistein and daidzein diets. This study indicates that consumption of soy foods may increase metastasis