Desarrollo, análisis y estudio de sonomiografía aplicada a Fisioterapia.

Tras este primer trabajo se desarrolló otro trabajo centrado en el estudio de los tejidos blandos, donde la técnica había demostrados ser eficaz para detectar cambios de rigidez en tejidos profundos. Con este objetivo se realizó un estudio donde, mediante el empleo de las mismas variables que en el estudio anterior, se intentó valorar de una forma más objetiva que mediante la algometría, la escala EVA del dolor, o la palpación, el efecto a corto plazo de una terapia manual en el tratamiento de los puntos gatillo miofasciales. Este estudio mostró cambios en la rigidez y en el flujo sanguíneo tras la aplicación del tratamiento manual. Posteriormente, en esa misma línea de trabajo, un tercer estudio abordó el estudio de la algometría como el método más empleado actualmente para la cuantificación de los puntos gatillo miofasciales. En este estudio se empleó la sonoelastografía, enfrentándola a la algometría, y valorando la primera como una técnica que pudiese obtener resultados más objetivos y con una mayor sensibilidad al cambio que la algometría, tras la realización de un tratamiento de terapia manual. Este último estudio no mostró correlación entre algometría y sonoelastografía, aunque sí cambios en la rigidez muscular tras la aplicación del tratamiento manual.El modo B del ecógrafo es muy útil para visualizar algunos tipos de lesiones, pero es incapaz de distinguir lesiones de carácter isoecoico con el tejido de alrededor, lesiones que en cambio poseen mayor rigidez como algunos tumores o la cirrosis hepática. La palpación puede ayudar a detectar esos cambios en la rigidez de los tejidos, pero sufre de limitaciones como la dificultad de acceso a tejidos profundos, un reducido tamaño de la lesión o la pericia del examinador. La elastografía es una nueva herramienta de estudio que usa técnicas de imagen como la sonografía (entre otras posibles técnicas como la resonancia magnética o la tomografía computarizada) como medio de apoyo para estudiar los cambios en la rigidez en tejidos profundos. La aparición de varios trabajos, en los que se desarrollaban una de estas técnicas para el estudio de los puntos gatillo miofasciales, junto a la similitud existente en dos patologías del sistema musculoesquelético tan comunes como el síndrome del dolor miofascial, con sus puntos gatillo miofasciales y la fibromialgia, con sus tender points, llevó a la elaboración de un primer trabajo donde se valoró la posible utilidad de diferentes variables ecográficas en la discriminación de los tender points en pacientes con fibromialgia. En este primer trabajo se emplearon diferentes indicadores ecográficos para el estudio de los tender points en el músculo trapecio superior, empleando en concreto: la valoración de la morfología mediante la imagen en escala de grises, el uso de técnicas Doppler color para el estudio de la resistencia de los tejidos al paso del flujo sanguíneo, y el estudio de la elasticidad relativa de la zona mediante sonoelastografía por vibración. En este trabajo no se encontraron diferencias significativas en la rigidez del trapecio superior en pacientes con fibromialgia en comparación con un grupo control

Confident methods for the evaluation of the hydrogen content in nanoporous carbon microfibers

Abstract Nanoporous carbon microfibers were grown by chemical vapor deposition in the vapor-liquid solid mode using different fluid hydrocarbons as precursors in different proportions. The as-grown samples were further treated in argon and hydrogen atmospheres at different pressure conditions and annealed at several temperatures in order to deduce the best conditions for the incorporation and re-incorporation of hydrogen into the microfibers through the nanopores. Since there are some discrepancies in the results on the hydrogen content obtained under vacuum conditions, in this work, we have measured the hydrogen content in the microfibers using several analytical methods in ambient conditions: surface tension, mass density, and Raman measurements. A discussion on the validity of the results obtained through the correlation between them is the purpose of the present work.Peer Reviewe

Effects of Gamma Irradiation on the Kinetics of the Adsorption and Desorption of Hydrogen in Carbon Microfibres

In this study, three types of carbon fibres were used, they were ex-polyacrylonitrile carbon fibres with high bulk modulus, ex-polyacrylonitrile fibres with high strength, and vapour grown carbon fibres. All the samples were subjected to a hydrogen adsorption process at room temperature in an over-pressured atmosphere of 25 bars. The adsorption process was monitored through electrical resistivity measurements. As conditioning of the fibres, a chemical activation by acid etching followed by ¿-ray irradiation with 60Co radioisotopes was performed. The surface energy was deter-mined by means of the sessile drop test. Both conditioning treatments are supplementary; the chemical activation works on the outer surface and the ¿-irradiation works in the bulk material as well. Apparently, the most significant parameter for hydrogen storage is the crystallite size. From this point of view, the mostPeer Reviewe

Phosphorylation of Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 4G1 (eIF4G1) at Ser1147 Is Specific for eIF4G1 Bound to eIF4E in Delayed Neuronal Death after Ischemia

Ischemic strokes are caused by a reduction in cerebral blood flow and both the ischemic period and subsequent reperfusion induce brain injury, with different tissue damage depending on the severity of the ischemic insult, its duration, and the particular areas of the brain affected. In those areas vulnerable to cerebral ischemia, the inhibition of protein translation is an essential process of the cellular response leading to delayed neuronal death. In particular, translation initiation is ratelimiting for protein synthesis and the eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4F complex is indispensable for cap-dependent protein translation. In the eIF4F complex, eIF4G is a scaffolding protein that provides docking sites for the assembly of eIF4A and eIF4E, binding to the cap structure of the mRNA and stabilizing all proteins of the complex. The eIF4F complex constituents, eIF4A, eIF4E, and eIF4G, participate in translation regulation by their phosphorylation at specific sites under cellular stress conditions, modulating the activity of the cap-binding complex and protein translation. This work investigates the phosphorylation of eIF4G1 involved in the eIF4E/eIF4G1 association complex, and their regulation in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) as a stress-inducing condition. IR was induced in an animal model of transient cerebral ischemia and the results were studied in the resistant cortical region and in the vulnerable hippocampal CA1 region. The presented data demonstrate the phosphorylation of eIF4G1 at Ser1147, Ser1185, and Ser1231 in both brain regions and in control and ischemic conditions, being the phosphorylation of eIF4G1 at Ser1147 the only one found in the eIF4E/eIF4G association complex from the cap-containing matrix (m7GTP-Sepharose). In addition, our work reveals the specific modulation of the phosphorylation of eIF4G1 at Ser1147 in the vulnerable region, with increased levels and colocalization with eIF4E in response to IR. These findings contribute to elucidate the molecular mechanism of protein translation regulation that underlies in the balance of cell survival/death during pathophysiological stress, such as cerebral ischemia

Molecular diversity of anthracnose pathogen populations associated with UK strawberry production suggests multiple introductions of three different Colletotrichum species.

Fragaria × ananassa (common name: strawberry) is a globally cultivated hybrid species belonging to Rosaceae family. Colletotrichum acutatum sensu lato (s.l.) is considered to be the second most economically important pathogen worldwide affecting strawberries. A collection of 148 Colletotrichum spp. isolates including 67 C. acutatum s.l. isolates associated with the phytosanitary history of UK strawberry production were used to characterize multi-locus genetic variation of this pathogen in the UK, relative to additional reference isolates that represent a worldwide sampling of the diversity of the fungus. The evidence indicates that three different species C. nymphaeae, C. godetiae and C. fioriniae are associated with strawberry production in the UK, which correspond to previously designated genetic groups A2, A4 and A3, respectively. Among these species, 12 distinct haplotypes were identified suggesting multiple introductions into the country. A subset of isolates was also used to compare aggressiveness in causing disease on strawberry plants and fruits. Isolates belonging to C. nymphaeae, C. godetiae and C. fioriniae representative of the UK anthracnose pathogen populations showed variation in their aggressiveness. Among the three species, C. nymphaeae and C. fioriniae appeared to be more aggressive compared to C. godetiae. This study highlights the genetic and pathogenic heterogeneity of the C. acutatum s.l. populations introduced into the UK linked to strawberry production

Lung Ultrasound as a First-Line Test in the Evaluation of Post-COVID-19 Pulmonary Sequelae

COVID-19; Lung ultrasound (LUS); Pulmonary sequelaeCOVID-19; Ecografía pulmonar (LUS); Secuelas pulmonaresCOVID-19; Ecografia pulmonar (LUS); Seqüeles pulmonarsBackground: Interstitial lung sequelae are increasingly being reported in survivors of COVID-19 pneumonia. An early detection of these lesions may help prevent the development of irreversible lung fibrosis. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has shown high diagnostic accuracy in interstitial lung disease (ILD) and could likely be used as a first-line test for post-COVID-19 lung sequelae. Methods: Single-center observational prospective study. Follow-up assessments of consecutive patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia were conducted 2–5 months after the hospitalization. All patients underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs), high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and LUS. Radiological alterations in HRCT were quantified using the Warrick score. The LUS score was obtained by evaluating the presence of pathological B-lines in 12 thoracic areas (range, 0–12). The correlation between the LUS and Warrick scores was analyzed. Results: Three hundred and fifty-two patients who recovered from COVID-19 pneumonia were recruited between July and September 2020. At follow-up, dyspnea was the most frequent symptom (69.3%). FVC and DLCO alterations were present in 79 (22.4%) and 234 (66.5%) patients, respectively. HRCT showed relevant interstitial lung sequelae (RILS) in 154 (43.8%) patients (Warrick score ≥ 7). The LUS score was strongly correlated with the HRCT Warrick score (r = 0.77) and showed a moderate inverse correlation with DLCO (r = −0.55). The ROC curve analysis revealed that a LUS score ≥ 3 indicated an excellent ability to discriminate patients with RILS (sensitivity, 94.2%; specificity, 81.8%; negative predictive value, 94.7%). Conclusions: LUS could be implemented as a first-line procedure in the evaluation of Post-COVID-19 interstitial lung sequelae. A normal LUS examination rules out the presence of these sequelae in COVID-19 survivors, avoiding the need for additional diagnostic tests such as HRCT

The role of the melatoninergic system in epilepsy and comorbid psychiatric disorders

Abstract There is emerging evidence of the beneficial role of the melatonin system in a wide range of psychiatric and neurologic disorders, including anxiety, depression, and epilepsy. Although melatoninergic drugs have chronobiotic and antioxidant properties that positively influence circadian rhythm desynchronization and neuroprotection in neurodegenerative disorders, studies examining the use of melatonin for epilepsy's comorbid psychiatric and neurological symptomatology are still limited. Preclinical and clinical findings on the beneficial effects of the melatonin system on anxiety, depression, and epilepsy suggest that melatoninergic compounds might be effective in treating comorbid behavioral complications in epilepsy beyond regulation of a disturbed sleep-wake cycle

Diverse Large HIV-1 Non-subtype B Clusters Are Spreading Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Spain

In Western Europe, the HIV-1 epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) is dominated by subtype B. However, recently, other genetic forms have been reported to circulate in this population, as evidenced by their grouping in clusters predominantly comprising European individuals. Here we describe four large HIV-1 non-subtype B clusters spreading among MSM in Spain. Samples were collected in 9 regions. A pol fragment was amplified from plasma RNA or blood-extracted DNA. Phylogenetic analyses were performed via maximum likelihood, including database sequences of the same genetic forms as the identified clusters. Times and locations of the most recent common ancestors (MRCA) of clusters were estimated with a Bayesian method. Five large non-subtype B clusters associated with MSM were identified. The largest one, of F1 subtype, was reported previously. The other four were of CRF02_AG (CRF02_1; n = 115) and subtypes A1 (A1_1; n = 66), F1 (F1_3; n = 36), and C (C_7; n = 17). Most individuals belonging to them had been diagnosed of HIV-1 infection in the last 10 years. Each cluster comprised viruses from 3 to 8 Spanish regions and also comprised or was related to viruses from other countries: CRF02_1 comprised a Japanese subcluster and viruses from 8 other countries from Western Europe, Asia, and South America; A1_1 comprised viruses from Portugal, United Kingom, and United States, and was related to the A1 strain circulating in Greece, Albania and Cyprus; F1_3 was related to viruses from Romania; and C_7 comprised viruses from Portugal and was related to a virus from Mozambique. A subcluster within CRF02_1 was associated with heterosexual transmission. Near full-length genomes of each cluster were of uniform genetic form. Times of MRCAs of CRF02_1, A1_1, F1_3, and C_7 were estimated around 1986, 1989, 2013, and 1983, respectively. MRCA locations for CRF02_1 and A1_1 were uncertain (however initial expansions in Spain in Madrid and Vigo, respectively, were estimated) and were most probable in Bilbao, Spain, for F1_3 and Portugal for C_7. These results show that the HIV-1 epidemic among MSM in Spain is becoming increasingly diverse through the expansion of diverse non-subtype B clusters, comprising or related to viruses circulating in other countries