The Effects of the Peak-Peak Correlation on the Peak Model of Hierarchical Clustering

In two previous papers a semi-analytical model was presented for the hierarchical clustering of halos via gravitational instability from peaks in a random Gaussian field of density fluctuations. This model is better founded than the extended Press-Schechter model, which is known to agree with numerical simulations and to make similar predictions. The specific merger rate, however, shows a significant departure at intermediate captured masses. The origin of this was suspected as being the rather crude approximation used for the density of nested peaks. Here, we seek to verify this suspicion by implementing a more accurate expression for the latter quantity which accounts for the correlation among peaks. We confirm that the inclusion of the peak-peak correlation improves the specific merger rate, while the good behavior of the remaining quantities is preserved.Comment: ApJ accepted. 15 pages, including 4 figures. Also available at ftp://pcess1.am.ub.es/pub/ApJ/effectpp.ps.g

Dextran sulfate from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B512F exerts potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in vivo

SARS–CoV–2; Dextran sulfate; NebulizationSARS–CoV–2; Sulfato de dextrano; NebulizaciónSARS–CoV–2; Sulfat de dextrano; NebulitzacióThe emergent human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and its resistance to current drugs makes the need for new potent treatments for COVID-19 patients strongly necessary. Dextran sulfate (DS) polysaccharides have long demonstrated antiviral activity against different enveloped viruses in vitro. However, their poor bioavailability has led to their abandonment as antiviral candidates. Here, we report for the first time the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of a DS-based extrapolymeric substance produced by the lactic acid bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides B512F. Time of addition assays with SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses in in vitro models confirm the inhibitory activity of DSs in the early stages of viral infection (viral entry). In addition, this exopolysaccharide substance also reports broad-spectrum antiviral activity against several enveloped viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, HCoV229E, HSV-1, in in vitro models and in human lung tissue. The toxicity and antiviral capacity of DS from L. mesenteroides was tested in vivo in mouse models which are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The described DS, administered by inhalation, a new route of administration for these types of polymers, shows strong inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo, significantly reducing animal mortality and morbidity at non-toxic doses. Therefore, we suggest that it may be considered as a potential candidate for antiviral therapy against SARS-CoV-2.Financial support for the study was provided by the REACT-EU 2021 grant from Comunidad de Madrid to the Project COVTRAVI-19-CM, Plataformas y modelos preclínicos para el abordaje multidisciplinar en COVID-19 y en respuesta a futuras pandemias

Association between chronic irritability and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents.

Association between chronic irritability and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. Busto-Garrido, M.; Gutierrez-Castillo, D; Navas- Gonzalez, JR; Gutierrez-Bedmar, M; Gutierrez-Casares, JR; Martin-Lunar, MT; Rodríguez-Rosado, A; Pena-Andreu, JM. European Psychiatry 415(2017) 5221.Chronic irritability is the most frequently reported symptom in child and adolescent depression. The association of both has been linked with high rates of chronicity, comorbility and impairment. Objectives To study the association between chronic irritability and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. Methods We have studied 857 participants recruited from the only Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinic in a catchment area of 122968 people under 18 (2004-2010). A sample of 677 participants (57 controls and 620 patients) was included to carry out a cross-sectional study. Chronic irritability was measured by a Visual Analog Scale (VAS irritability) -scored from 0 to 10-, and depressive symptoms by the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). The participants were categorized into controls and patients, and according to their chronic irritability (≤4 [I],5 [II] and ≥6 [III]). The mean of CDI score was calculated for each of the groups, adjusted by sex and age, and analyzed by ANCOVA. Results The following means were obtained from the controls: 13,71 (group I), 9,82 (group II) and 17,45 (group III). Regarding to the patients: 13,92 (group I), 11,54 (group II) and 15,64 (group III). A quadratic association (p <0,0015) was found between VAS irritability score and CDI score. Conclussions There is not a lineal association between chronic irritability and depressive symptoms in children and adolescent. High rates of depressive symptoms were associated both with high and low rates of irritability. Several questions remain unexplained about the status of irritability in psychiatry as Stringaris group has been pointed out. Disclosure statement I have no potential conflict of interest to discloseUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Prevalence of altered passive eruption in orthodontically treated and untreated patients

Background: some authors have reported that after orthodontic treatment (OT), a 'gummy smile' might develop. Nevertheless, there are no studies in the literature that investigate whether OT increases the presence of altered passive eruption (APE). The primary aim of this cross-sectional study is to evaluate the prevalence of APE after OT (OT group) and compare it with patients who never received OT (control group). A secondary aim is to identify which variables are related to APE. Methods: the study population consisted of 190 patients (95 patients each in the control and OT groups), providing 1,140 anterior teeth for the clinical examination. The following clinical parameters were assessed: presence or absence of APE, clinical crown length, and gingival biotype, which was divided into three categories: thin-scalloped, thick-flat, and thick-scalloped. Results: twenty-eight patients (29.5%) were diagnosed with APE in the control group and 40 (42.1%) in the OT group, although this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.07). Furthermore, 34 (75.6%) patients with thick-flat biotype were diagnosed with APE, whereas 30 (31.3%) and four (8.2%) with thick-scalloped and thin-scalloped biotypes, respectively, had APE. These differences were statistically significant (P <0.001). Conclusions: it was concluded that: 1) the prevalence of APE is higher after OT but not to a statistically significant degree and 2) APE is more common in individuals with a thick-flat gingival biotype

NALP1 is a transcriptional target for cAMP-response-element-binding protein (CREB) in myeloid leukaemia cells

NALP1 (also called DEFCAP, NAC, CARD7) has been shown to play a central role in the activation of inflammatory caspases and processing of pro-IL1β (pro-interleukin-1β). Previous studies showed that NALP1 is highly expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In the present study, we report that expression of NALP1 is absent from CD34+ haematopoietic blast cells, and its levels are upregulated upon differentiation of CD34+ cells into granulocytes and to a lesser extent into monocytes. In peripheral blood cells, the highest levels of NALP1 were observed in CD3+ (T-lymphocytes), CD15+ (granulocytes) and CD14+ (monocytes) cell populations. Notably, the expression of NALP1 was significantly increased in the bone marrow blast cell population of some patients with acute leukaemia, but not among tissue samples from thyroid and renal cancer. A search for consensus sites within the NALP1 promoter revealed a sequence for CREB (cAMP-response-element-binding protein) that was required for transcriptional activity. Moreover, treatment of TF1 myeloid leukaemia cells with protein kinase C and protein kinase A activators induced CREB phosphorylation and upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of NALP1. Conversely, ectopic expression of a dominant negative form of CREB in TF1 cells blocked the transcriptional activity of the NALP1 promoter and significantly reduced the expression of NALP1. Thus NALP1 is transcriptionally regulated by CREB in myeloid cells, a mechanism that may contribute to modulate the response of these cells to pro-inflammatory stimuli

Are the Accompanying Cations of Doping Anions Influential in Conducting Organic Polymers? The Case of the Popular PEDOT

"This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: I. Fuentes, M. J. Mostazo-López, Z. Kelemen, V. Compañ, A. Andrio, E. Morallón, D. Cazorla-Amorós, C. Viñas, F. Teixidor, Chem. Eur. J. 2019, 25, 14308. , which has been published in final form at ttps://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201902708. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving."[EN] Conducting organic polymers (COPs) are made of a conjugated polymer backbone supporting a certain degree of oxidation. These positive charges are compensated by the doping anions that are introduced into the polymer synthesis along with their accompanying cations. In this work, the influence of these cations on the stoichiometry and physicochemical properties of the resulting COPs have been investigated, something that has previously been overlooked, but, as here proven, is highly relevant. As the doping anion, metallacarborane [Co(C2B9H11)(2)](-) was chosen, which acts as a thistle. This anion binds to the accompanying cation with a distinct strength. If the binding strength is weak, the doping anion is more prone to compensate the positive charge of the polymer, and the opposite is also true. Thus, the ability of the doping anion to compensate the positive charges of the polymer can be tuned, and this determines the stoichiometry of the polymer. As the polymer, PEDOT was studied, whereas Cs+, Na+, K+, Li+, and H+ as cations. Notably, with the [Co(C2B9H11)(2)](-) anions, these cations are grouped into two sets, Cs+ and H+ in one and Na+, K+, and Li+ in the second, according to the stoichiometry of the COPs: 2:1 EDOT/[Co(C2B9H11)(2)](-) for Cs+ and H+, and 3:1 EDOT/[Co(C2B9H11)(2)](-) for Na+, K+, and Li+. The distinct stoichiometries are manifested in the physicochemical properties of the COPs, namely in the electrochemical response, electronic conductivity, ionic conductivity, and capacitance.We gratefully acknowledge the Spanish Ministerio de Economa y Competitividad (MINECO; projects ENE/2015-69203-R and CTQ2016-75150-R) and the Generalitat de Catalunya (2014/SGR/149) for financial support. I.F. is enrolled in the Ph.D. program of the UAB. Z.K. is grateful for the general support of the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program through a Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant (MSCA-IF-2016-751587).Fuentes, I.; Mostazo-Lopez, MJ.; Kelemen, Z.; Compañ Moreno, V.; Andrio, A.; Morallon, E.; Cazorla-Amoros, D.... (2019). Are the Accompanying Cations of Doping Anions Influential in Conducting Organic Polymers? The Case of the Popular PEDOT. Chemistry - A European Journal. 25(63):14308-14319. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201902708S14308143192563Gracia, R., & Mecerreyes, D. 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Multiple Sporadic Colorectal Cancers Display a Unique Methylation Phenotype

The members of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Group of the Spanish Gastroenterological Association are: Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid: Juan Diego Morillas (local coordinator), Raquel Muñoz, Marisa Manzano, Francisco Colina, Jose Díaz, Carolina Ibarrola, Guadalupe López, Alberto Ibáñez; Hospital Clínic, Barcelona: Antoni Castells (local coordinator), Virgínia Piñol, Sergi Castellví-Bel, Francesc Balaguer, Victoria Gonzalo, Teresa Ocaña, María Dolores Giráldez, Maria Pellisé, Anna Serradesanferm, Leticia Moreira, Miriam Cuatrecasas, Josep M. Piqué; Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza: Ángel Lanas (local coordinator), Javier Alcedo, Javier Ortego; Hospital Cristal-Piñor, Complexo Hospitalario de Ourense: Joaquin Cubiella (local coordinator), Ma Soledad Díez, Mercedes Salgado, Eloy Sánchez, Mariano Vega; Hospital del Mar, Barcelona: Montserrat Andreu (local coordinator), Anna Abuli, Xavier Bessa, Mar Iglesias, Agustín Seoane, Felipe Bory, Gemma Navarro, Beatriz Bellosillo, Josep Ma Dedeu, Cristina Álvarez, Begoña Gonzalez; Hospital San Eloy, Baracaldo and Hospital Donostia, CIBERehd, University of Country Basque, San Sebastián: Luis Bujanda (local coordinator) Ángel Cosme, Inés Gil, Mikel Larzabal, Carlos Placer, María del Mar Ramírez, Elisabeth Hijona, Jose M. Enríquez-Navascués, Jose L. Elosegui; Hospital General Universitario de Alicante: Artemio Payá (EPICOLON I local coordinator), Rodrigo Jover (EPICOLON II local coordinator), Cristina Alenda, Laura Sempere, Nuria Acame, Estefanía Rojas, Lucía Pérez-Carbonell; Hospital General de Granollers: Joaquim Rigau (local coordinator), Ángel Serrano, Anna Giménez; Hospital General de Vic: Joan Saló (local coordinator), Eduard Batiste-Alentorn, Josefina Autonell, Ramon Barniol; Hospital General Universitario de Guadalajara and Fundación para la Formación e Investigación Sanitarias Murcia: Ana María García (local coordinator), Fernando Carballo, Antonio Bienvenido, Eduardo Sanz, Fernando González, Jaime Sánchez, Akiko Ono; Hospital General Universitario de Valencia: Mercedes Latorre (local coordinator), Enrique Medina, Jaime Cuquerella, Pilar Canelles, Miguel Martorell, José Ángel García, Francisco Quiles, Elisa Orti; CHUVI-Hospital Meixoeiro, Vigo: EPICOLON I: Juan Clofent (local coordinator), Jaime Seoane, Antoni Tardío, Eugenia Sanchez; EPICOLON II: Ma Luisa de Castro (local coordinator), Antoni Tardío, Juan Clofent, Vicent Hernández; Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona and Section of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL: Xavier Llor (local coordinator), Rosa M. Xicola, Marta Piñol, Mercè Rosinach, Anna Roca, Elisenda Pons, José M. Hernández, Miquel A. Gassull; Hospital Universitari Mútua de Terrassa: Fernando Fernández-Bañares (local coordinator), Josep M. Viver, Antonio Salas, Jorge Espinós, Montserrat Forné, Maria Esteve; Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida: Josep M. Reñé (local coordinator), Carmen Piñol, Juan Buenestado, Joan Viñas; Hospital Universitario de Canarias: Enrique Quintero (local coordinator), David Nicolás, Adolfo Parra, Antonio Martín; Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia: Lidia Argüello (local coordinator), Vicente Pons, Virginia Pertejo, Teresa Sala; Hospital Sant Pau, Barcelona: Dolors Gonzalez (local coordinator), Eva Roman, Teresa Ramon, Maria Poca, Ma Mar Concepción, Marta Martin, Lourdes Pétriz; Hospital Xeral Cies, Vigo: Daniel Martinez (local coordinator); Fundacion Publica Galega de Medicina Xenomica (FPGMX), CIBERER, Genomic Medicine Group-University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain: Ángel Carracedo (local coordinator), Clara Ruiz-Ponte, Ceres Fernández-Rozadilla, Ma Magdalena Castro; Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias: Sabino Riestra (local coordinator), Luis Rodrigo; Hospital de Galdácano, Vizcaya: Javier Fernández (local coordinator), Jose Luis Cabriada; Fundación Hospital de Calahorra (La Rioja) La Rioja: Luis Carreño (local coordinator), Susana Oquiñena, Federico Bolado; Hospital Royo Villanova, Zaragoza: Elena Peña (local coordinator), José Manuel Blas, Gloria Ceña, Juan José Sebastián; Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba: Antonio Naranjo (local coordinator).Epigenetics are thought to play a major role in the carcinogenesis of multiple sporadic colorectal cancers (CRC). Previous studies have suggested concordant DNA hypermethylation between tumor pairs. However, only a few methylation markers have been analyzed. This study was aimed at describing the epigenetic signature of multiple CRC using a genome-scale DNA methylation profiling. We analyzed 12 patients with synchronous CRC and 29 age-, sex-, and tumor location-paired patients with solitary tumors from the EPICOLON II cohort. DNA methylation profiling was performed using the Illumina Infinium HM27 DNA methylation assay. The most significant results were validated by Methylight. Tumors samples were also analyzed for the CpG Island Methylator Phenotype (CIMP); KRAS and BRAF mutations and mismatch repair deficiency status. Functional annotation clustering was performed. We identified 102 CpG sites that showed significant DNA hypermethylation in multiple tumors with respect to the solitary counterparts (difference in β value ≥0.1). Methylight assays validated the results for 4 selected genes (p = 0.0002). Eight out of 12(66.6%) multiple tumors were classified as CIMP-high, as compared to 5 out of 29(17.2%) solitary tumors (p = 0.004). Interestingly, 76 out of the 102 (74.5%) hypermethylated CpG sites found in multiple tumors were also seen in CIMP-high tumors. Functional analysis of hypermethylated genes found in multiple tumors showed enrichment of genes involved in different tumorigenic functions. In conclusion, multiple CRC are associated with a distinct methylation phenotype, with a close association between tumor multiplicity and CIMP-high. Our results may be important to unravel the underlying mechanism of tumor multiplicity.This work was supported by grants from the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona (Josep Font grant), Ministerio de Economí­a y Competitividad (SAF 2007-64873 and SAF2010-19273), Fundación Científica de la Asociación Española contra el Cáncer, and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI10/00384). “Cofinanciado por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). Unión Europea. Una manera de hacer Europa”. CIBEREHD is funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Growth differentiation factor 15 as mortality predictor in heart failure patients with non-reduced ejection fraction

Altres ajuts: This study was supported by Fundació d'Investigació Sant Pau (G-60136934).The prognostic value of biomarkers in patients with heart failure (HF) and mid-range (HFmrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has not been widely addressed. The aim of this study was to assess whether the prognostic value of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is superior to that of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with HFmrEF or HFpEF. Heart failure patients with either HFpEF or HFmrEF were included in the study. During their first visit to the HF unit, serum samples were obtained and stored for later assessment of GDF-15 and NT-proBNP concentrations. Patients were followed up by the HF unit. The main endpoint was all-cause mortality. A total of 311 patients, 90 (29%) HFmrEF and 221 (71%) HFpEF, were included. Mean age was 72 ± 13 years, and 136 (44%) were women. No differences were found in GDF-15 or NT-proBNP concentrations between both HF groups. During a median follow-up of 15 months (Q1-Q3: 9-30 months), 98 patients (32%) died, most (71%) of cardiovascular causes. Patients who died had higher median concentrations of GDF-15 (4085 vs. 2270 ng/L, P 65 years (P 4330 ng/L), and survival curves were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier technique. Patients in the highest tertile had the poorest 5 year survival, at 16%, whereas the lowest tertile had the best survival, of 78% (P < 0.001). Growth differentiation factor 15 was superior to NT-proBNP for assessing prognosis in patients with HFpEF and HFmrEF. GDF-15 emerges as a strong, independent biomarker for identifying HFmrEF and HFpEF patients with worse prognosis

DSS-IWM: An improved European Decision Support System for Integrated Weed Management

In the frame of the European ERA-Net project “Coordinated Integrated Pest Management in Europe (C-IPM)” scientists from Germany, Denmark and Spain design and customise an innovative online decision support system for integrated weed control (DSS-IWM) in maize and winter wheat. The project runs from 2016 to 2019 with the aim to assist farmers and farm advisors in treating weeds in crops at precisely the right times and the most efficient products in the right amounts. DSS-IWM can, therefore, contribute to reducing herbicide consumption markedly without affecting the yield. It will support reliable decisions based on local conditions and will consider thresholds for weed densities, include economic calculations of treatment costs. The basis of herbicide recommendations is the database and the calculation/mathematics of the DSS-IWM, especially dose-response-relations of herbicides. If data gaps appear pot trials with respective weeds and herbicides are carried out. New features and information are continuously filled in. Additionally, in all countries field trials in maize and winter wheat are carried out to validate the DSS

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Coverage and Factors Associated with Low Uptake in a Cohort of People Living with HIV

People living with HIV (PLWH) are prioritised for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination due to their vulnerability to severe COVID-19. Therefore, the epidemiological surveillance of vaccination coverage and the timely identification of suboptimally vaccinated PLWH is vital. We assessed SARS-CoV-2 vaccination coverage and factors associated with under-vaccination among PLWH in Catalonia, Spain. As of 11.12.2021, 9945/14942 PLWH (66.6%) had received >= 1 dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Non-Spanish origin (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.64, 95% CI 0.59-0.70), CD4 count of 200-349 cells/mu L (aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.64-0.86) or 350-499 cells/mu L (aOR 0.79, 95% CI 0.70-0.88), detectable plasma HIV-RNA (aOR 0.61 95% CI 0.53-0.70), and previous SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis (aOR 0.58 95% CI 0.51-0.65) were associated with under-vaccination. SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis (437 [9.5%] vs. 323 [3.5%], p 200 cells/mu L, detectable plasma HIV-RNA, previous SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, and migrants. SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, associated hospitalisations, and deaths among PLWH were lower among the vaccinated compared with the unvaccinated. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination prioritisation has not completely reached vulnerable PLWH with poorer prognosis. This information can be used to inform public health strategies