ERCP and splenic injury

Abstractendoscopic Retrograde Colangiopancreatography (eRCP) is an invasive procedure with important complications that occurs in 5%-10% of the cases. The most frequent procedure related complications are: acute pancreatitis, hemorrhage, perforation and infection. an infrequent but potentially life threatening eRCP complication is the splenic injury, with very few cases reported in the literature. We report a patient with cholecholithiasis and biliary pancreatitis who was diagnosed with a subcapsular splenic laceration a few hours after an eRCP. Clinicians should be alerted to this potential post-procedure complication associated with eRCP

A beam-beam monitoring detector for the MPD experiment at NICA

The Multi-Purpose Detector (MPD) is to be installed at the Nuclotron Ion Collider fAcility (NICA) of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR). Its main goal is to study the phase diagram of the strongly interacting matter produced in heavy-ion collisions. These studies, while providing insight into the physics of heavy-ion collisions, are relevant for improving our understanding of the evolution of the early Universe and the formation of neutron stars. In order to extend the MPD trigger capabilities, we propose to include a high granularity beam-beam monitoring detector (BE-BE) to provide a level-0 trigger signal with an expected time resolution of 30 ps. This new detector will improve the determination of the reaction plane by the MPD experiment, a key measurement for flow studies that provides physics insight into the early stages of the reaction. In this work, we use simulated Au+Au collisions at NICA energies to show the potential of such a detector to determine the event plane resolution, providing further redundancy to the detectors originally considered for this purpose namely, the Fast Forward Detector (FFD) and the Hadron Calorimeter (HCAL). We also show our results for the time resolution studies of two prototype cells carried out at the T10 beam line at the CERN PS complex.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures. Updated to published version with added comments and correction

Morphological identification and characterization of the formation of floral primordium in Vanilla planifolia (Orchidaceae)

ABSTRACT Objective: To study the formation of floral primordia and individual flower development in the inflorescence of vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Jacks Ex. Andrews). Design/methodology/approach: The study site was located at Rancho Xanathtlan, in Barriles, municipality of Gutiérrez Zamora, Veracruz. Inflorescence primordia and young inflorescences (racemes) at different stages of development were sampled from three different stem positions: basal (11-15 internodes), middle (6-10 internodes) and distal (1-5 internodes). Four samplings were made from February to May, and five replicates of each stem position were used per sampling date. Observations and characterization were carried out with a stereo microscope. Results: Seven developmental stages were described for the racemes of V. planifolia: (I) differentiated meristem of the floral inflorescence, (II) appearance of the third bract, (III) initiation of the formation of the racemes, (IV) elongation of the floral primordia, (V) development and growth of the individual floral primordia in the acropetal direction, (VI) anthesis of the inflorescence in the acropetal direction and (VII) complete flowering of the raceme. Five developmental stages of formation of individual flower primordia within the inflorescence were also identified, which occurred from the appearance of the third bract in the acropetal direction. Limitations on study/implications: Although this study denotes the first observations on the floral phenology of V. planifolia, there are still many questions about the biochemical processes and the interaction of environmental aspects in this floral development. Findings/conclusions: First aspects of floral formation within the inflorescence as well as floral phenology in Vanilla planifolia were shown. Keywords: Floral growth, floral phenology, inflorescences, orchids.Objective: To morphologically identify and characterize the formation of floral primordium and the individual flower development in Vanilla planifolia Jacks Ex. Andrews. Design/Methodology/Approach: Inflorescence primordia and young inflorescences in different development stages were sampled from the stem internodes of the following positions: basal (11-15), middle (6-10), and distal (1-5). Four samples were taken from each stem position from February to May, with five repetitions per sampling date. Observations and characterization were made with a stereo microscope. The study site was located at Rancho Xanathtlan, in Barriles, municipality of Gutiérrez Zamora, Veracruz. Results: The development of the V. planifolia raceme is described in seven phases: (I) differentiated meristem of the floral inflorescence; (II) appearance of the third bract; (III) initiation of the racemes formation; (IV) elongation of the floral primordium; (V) development and growth of the individual floral primordium in the acropetal direction, (VI) anthesis of the inflorescence in the acropetal direction; and (VII) complete flowering of the raceme. The development of the buds in the raceme is described in five stages from the appearance of the third bract in the acropetal direction. Study Limitations/Implications: The biochemical processes and the interaction of environmental aspects on the floral development of V. planifolia pose questions that remain unanswered. Findings/Conclusions: The first aspects of floral formation within the inflorescence of Vanilla planifolia were determined, along with its floral phenology

Avifauna en dos complejos de páramo de Antioquia, Colombia

We characterized bird communities in two paramo complexes (Frontino-Urrao and Sonsón) in the department of Antioquia, Colombia, including the transition zones and the upper boundaries of cloud forests. We recorded 197 bird species (40 families), of which 7 presented some threat category, 1 is almost threatened, 5 are endemic, 15 near endemic, 4 boreal migratory species and 1 austral migratory species. We point out 12 species that are relevant, either due to their degree of national threat or because they represent geographic or altitudinal range extensions.Hicimos caracterizaciones rápidas de avifauna en dos complejos de páramo (Frontino-Urrao y Sonsón) en el departamento de Antioquia, Colombia, en el límite superior de bosques nublados, zonas de transición y páramos. Registramos 197 especies de aves (40 familias), de las cuales 7 presentan alguna categoría de amenaza, 1 está casi amenazada, 5 son endémicas, 15 casi endémicas, 4 son migratorias boreales y 1 es migratoria austral. Señalamos 12 especies de importancia, ya sea por su grado de amenaza nacional o por presentar ampliación en su rango de distribución geográfica o altitudinal

Towards a Circular Economy of Plastics:An Evaluation of the Systematic Transition to a New Generation of Bioplastics

Plastics have become an essential part of the modern world thanks to their appealing physical and chemical properties as well as their low production cost. The most common type of polymers used for plastic account for 90% of the total production and are made from petroleum-based nonrenewable resources. Concerns over the sustainability of the current production model and the environmental implications of traditional plastics have fueled the demand for greener formulations and alternatives. In the last decade, new plastics manufactured from renewable sources and biological processes have emerged from research and have been established as a commercially viable solution with less adverse effects. Nevertheless, economic and legislative challenges for biobased plastics hinder their widespread implementation. This review summarizes the history of plastics over the last century, including the most relevant bioplastics and production methods, the environmental impact and mitigation of the adverse effects of conventional and emerging plastics, and the regulatory landscape that renewable and recyclable bioplastics face to reach a sustainable future.</p

Analysis of CpG methylation sites and CGI among human papillomavirus DNA genomes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) genome is divided into early and late coding sequences, including 8 open reading frames (ORFs) and a regulatory region (LCR). Viral gene expression may be regulated through epigenetic mechanisms, including cytosine methylation at CpG dinucleotides. We have analyzed the distribution of CpG sites and CpG islands/clusters (CGI) among 92 different HPV genomes grouped in function of their preferential tropism: cutaneous or mucosal. We calculated the proportion of CpG sites (PCS) for each ORF and calculated the expected CpG values for each viral type.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CpGs are underrepresented in viral genomes. We found a positive correlation between CpG observed and expected values, with mucosal high-risk (HR) virus types showing the smallest O/E ratios. The ranges of the PCS were similar for most genomic regions except <it>E4</it>, where the majority of CpGs are found within islands/clusters. At least one CGI belongs to each <it>E2/E4 </it>region. We found positive correlations between PCS for each viral ORF when compared with the others, except for the LCR against four ORFs and <it>E6 </it>against three other ORFs. The distribution of CpG islands/clusters among HPV groups is heterogeneous and mucosal HR-HPV types exhibit both lower number and shorter island sizes compared to cutaneous and mucosal Low-risk (LR) HPVs (all of them significantly different).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There is a difference between viral and cellular CpG underrepresentation. There are significant correlations between complete genome PCS and a lack of correlations between several genomic region pairs, especially those involving LCR and <it>E6</it>. <it>L2 </it>and <it>L1 </it>ORF behavior is opposite to that of oncogenes <it>E6 </it>and <it>E7</it>. The first pair possesses relatively low numbers of CpG sites clustered in CGIs while the oncogenes possess a relatively high number of CpG sites not associated to CGIs. In all HPVs, <it>E2/E4 </it>is the only region with at least one CGI and shows a higher content of CpG sites in every HPV type with an identified <it>E4</it>. The mucosal HR-HPVs show either the shortest CGI size, followed by the mucosal LR-HPVs and lastly by the cutaneous viral subgroup, and a trend to the lowest CGI number, followed by the cutaneous viral subgroup and lastly by the mucosal LR-HPVs.</p

Attitudes and burden in relatives of patients with schizophrenia in a middle income country

BACKGROUND: Most studies of family attitudes and burden have been conducted in developed countries. Thus it is important to test the generalizability of this research in other contexts where social conditions and extended family involvement may be different. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the attitudes of caregivers and the burden they experience in such a context, namely Arica, a town located in the northernmost region of Chile, close to the border with Peru and Bolivia. METHODS: We assessed attitudes towards schizophrenia (including affective, cognitive and behavioural components) and burden (including subjective distress, rejection and competence) in 41 main caregivers of patients with schizophrenia, all of whom were users of Public Mental Health Services in Arica. RESULTS: Attitude measures differed significantly according to socio-demographic variables, with parents (mainly mothers) exhibiting a more negative attitude towards the environment than the rest of the family (t = 4.04; p = 0.000).This was also the case for caregivers with a low educational level (t = 3.27; p < 0.003), for the oldest caregivers (r = 0.546; p = 0.000) and for those who had spent more time with the patient (r = 0.377; p = 0.015). Although attitudes had significant association with burden, their explanatory power was modest (R2 = .104, F = 4,55; p = .039). CONCLUSIONS: Similar to finding developed countries, the current study revealed a positive and significant relationship between the attitudes of caregivers and their burden. These findings emphasize the need to support the families of patients with schizophrenia in this social context

Human native lipoprotein-induced de novo DNA methylation is associated with repression of inflammatory genes in THP-1 macrophages

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We previously showed that a VLDL- and LDL-rich mix of human native lipoproteins induces a set of repressive epigenetic marks, <it>i.e. de novo </it>DNA methylation, histone 4 hypoacetylation and histone 4 lysine 20 (H4K20) hypermethylation in THP-1 macrophages. Here, we: 1) ask what gene expression changes accompany these epigenetic responses; 2) test the involvement of candidate factors mediating the latter. We exploited genome expression arrays to identify target genes for lipoprotein-induced silencing, in addition to RNAi and expression studies to test the involvement of candidate mediating factors. The study was conducted in human THP-1 macrophages.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Native lipoprotein-induced <it>de novo </it>DNA methylation was associated with a general repression of various critical genes for macrophage function, including pro-inflammatory genes. Lipoproteins showed differential effects on epigenetic marks, as <it>de novo </it>DNA methylation was induced by VLDL and to a lesser extent by LDL, but not by HDL, and VLDL induced H4K20 hypermethylation, while HDL caused H4 deacetylation. The analysis of candidate factors mediating VLDL-induced DNA hypermethylation revealed that this response was: 1) surprisingly, mediated exclusively by the canonical maintenance DNA methyltransferase DNMT1, and 2) independent of the Dicer/micro-RNA pathway.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our work provides novel insights into epigenetic gene regulation by native lipoproteins. Furthermore, we provide an example of DNMT1 acting as a <it>de novo </it>DNA methyltransferase independently of canonical <it>de novo </it>enzymes, and show proof of principle that <it>de novo </it>DNA methylation can occur independently of a functional Dicer/micro-RNA pathway in mammals.</p