Estudio clínico de un brote de peritonitis infecciosa felina

Se describe un brote de peritonitis infecciosa felina (P.L.F) en una comunidad de 6 gatos. La baja prevalencia de la enfermedad, la inespecificidad de sus síntomas y la complejidad del diagnóstico dieron como resultado que sólo se detectase la enfermedad en e! estudio ana tomo patológico post-mortern del primer caso. Posteriormente, este diagnóstico se confirmó mediante necropsia y análisishistopatológico de otro de los gatos que contrajeron la enfermedad. No se ha encontrado ninguna referencia anterior de esta enfermedad en España, por lo que creemos que se trata de la primera descripción de P.L.F en nuestro país.An outbreak offeline infectious peritonitis (F.l.P.) is described in a community of six cats. The low prevalence of the disease, the non-specific nature of its symptoms and the complexity of diagnosis gave, as their result, that it could only be detected in the post-mortem anatornical-pathological study of the first case. Later on, this diagnosis was supported by means of the necropsy and histopathological analysis of one of the other cats that caught the disease. No previous reference to this disease has been found in Spain, due to which we belieue this may be considered as thefirst description of Feline Infectious Peritonitis in our country

The effects of university programs for seniors in their social network and social support. The case of the open university for seniors.

[ES] Introducción. El apoyo social se configura como una dimensión clave de la calidad de vida y del envejecimiento activo. El objetivo de la investigación fue describir y analizar la red y apoyo social de las personas alumnas del Diploma Sénior y Diploma Sénior Superior de la UOM entendiendo que éstos han aumentado su red social y pueden usar el apoyo social (emocional, informacional y material) que necesiten en diferentes circunstancias y procesos (recepción, percepción, demanda y donación), vinculándolo al capital social de éstas. Método. Se plantean una serie de hipótesis que han sido contrastadas a través de un cuestionario propio basado en: variables sociodemográficas, red social y apoyo social. El cuestionario se construyó a partir de diversas fuentes de referencia y fue parcialmente validado por pares y por jueces expertos. El análisis de los datos obtenidos se procesó con el programa estadístico SPSS.21. Resultados. Las personas mayores, alumnas de la UOM, poseen un buen nivel de apoyo social (emocional, informacional y material), además tienen una muy buena percepción de éste y una buena red social, tanto a nivel cuantitativo como cualitativo. Se observa una relación entre la mejora del capital social formativo y relacional con el apoyo social obtenido, en sus diversas modalidades. Discusión. Entre las principales destacamos: a) hay diferencias significativas entre las redes sociales y el apoyo social según el sexo, el grupo de edad, con quien viven y nivel de estudios; b) participar en la UOM produce cambios positivos en las redes y apoyos sociales de las personas mayores, especialmente a partir del reconocimiento o de la mejora del capital social formativo y relacional; c) la mayoría de los cambios se producen en los primeros cursos estabilizándose en los últimos años. Concluimos con una serie de propuestas de futuras investigaciones. [EN] ntroduction. Social support is set as a key dimension to quality of life; in addition, it is an indispensable part of active ageing. That is why we wanted to investigate the effects of social support on students at the Universitat Oberta per a Majors (UOM) of the University of Balearic Islands. In particular, our aim is to describe and analyze the social network and social support for people who have participated in the Senior Diploma and Higher Senior Diploma at the UOM; understanding that these students have increased their social network and that they can use the social support (emotional, informational and material) that they need in different circumstances and processes (reception, perception, request and donation), by linking it to their social capital. Method. To this end, the hypothesis will be tested through a specially created questionnaire based on three principal areas: socio-demographic, social network variables and social support variables. The questionnaire was made using various reference sources and was partially validated by peers and expert judges. The analysis of all the data is processed using the SPSS.21 program. Results. Senior students at the UOM have a good level of social support (emotional, informative and material); they also have a very good perception of this social support and a good social network, both at quantitative and qualitative levels. It can be observed a relationship between the improvement in educational and relational social capital with the social support received, in its various forms. Discussion. This article concludes with some elements for discussion related to the hypotheses: a) there are significant differences among social networks and social supports according to gender, age group, cohabitation status and level of education; b) participating in the UOM produces significant positive changes in seniors’ social networks and social supports, especially through the recognition or the improvement in educational and relational social capital; c) most changes that take place occur during the program’s first year, whereas these changes stabilize in later years. Finally some proposals for the future are made

Characterization of organic-inorganic hybrid coatings for corrosion protection of galvanized steel and electroplated ZnFe steel

The development of hybrids materials has been extensively investigated in recent years. The combination of a wide variety of compositions and production processes had permitted the use of these materials in different applications like coatings for corrosion protection of metals. In this worko organic-inorganic hybrid materials have been prepared from the hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate and silanol-terminated polidymetilmetoxysilane using a sol-gel process. These materials have been applied on galvanized steel and on steel electroplated with a ZnFe. In order to evaluate the degradation behavior of these coatings, electrochemical techniques (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy and Potentiodynamic Polarization) were used. EIS data was fitted to an equivalent circuit from which the electrochemical parameters were obtained. Results show a good protective character of the hybrid films, when compared with uncovered specimens. The overall performance of the coating systems appears to be highly dependent on the kind of metallic coating applied to the steel.The authors gratefully acknowledgments to Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), to Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico (CNPq) of Brasil, and to Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal – project - SFRH/BPD/5518/2001 by the financier support

Electrochemical characterization of samples of commercial steel treated with acetylene plasma

104-111Cutting tools have been employed in wood processing must be corrosion and wear resistant due to the acidic composition of wood and the wear generated during cutting, which lead to the deterioration of steel saws. Hydrogenated amorphous carbon films possess mechanical, tribological and barrier properties that can increase the hardness, wear and corrosion resistance of this type of tool. This work has involved an investigation of the effectiveness of plasma-deposited amorphous carbon thin films in protecting commercial carbon steel saws. Before deposition, the substrates were sputter-cleaned in argon plasma (19.27 Pa; 50 W) for 180 s. The films have been deposited using acetylene and argon mixtures excited by a radio frequency power supply (13.56 MHz, 70 W). The concentration of acetylene in the mixture has been varied in the inverse proportion to that of argon so as to maintain a constant total gas pressure of 1.8 Pa. The deposition time was 3600 s. The chemical behavior of the coated saws have been evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization curves.Surface images of the plasma-coated samples have been recorded by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results have indicated that the plasma treatment has increased the corrosion resistance of carbon steel samples in acidic solutions

Electrochemical characterization of samples of commercial steel treated with acetylene plasma

Cutting tools have been employed in wood processing must be corrosion and wear resistant due to the acidic compositionof wood and the wear generated during cutting, which lead to the deterioration of steel saws. Hydrogenated amorphouscarbon films possess mechanical, tribological and barrier properties that can increase the hardness, wear and corrosionresistance of this type of tool. This work has involved an investigation of the effectiveness of plasma-deposited amorphouscarbon thin films in protecting commercial carbon steel saws. Before deposition, the substrates were sputter-cleaned inargon plasma (19.27 Pa; 50 W) for 180 s. The films have been deposited using acetylene and argon mixtures excited by aradio frequency power supply (13.56 MHz, 70 W). The concentration of acetylene in the mixture has been varied in theinverse proportion to that of argon so as to maintain a constant total gas pressure of 1.8 Pa. The deposition time was 3600 s.The chemical behavior of the coated saws have been evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) andpolarization curves.Surface images of the plasma-coated samples have been recorded by scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The results have indicated that the plasma treatment has increased the corrosion resistance of carbon steel samples inacidic solutions

Chronological and biological aging of the human left ventricular myocardium: Analysis of microRNAs contribution

Aging is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In humans, cardiac aging remains poorly characterized. Most studies are based on chronological age (CA) and disregard biological age (BA), the actual physiological age (result of the aging rate on the organ structure and function), thus yielding potentially imperfect outcomes. Deciphering the molecular basis of ventricular aging, especially by BA, could lead to major progresses in cardiac research. We aim to describe the transcriptome dynamics of the aging left ventricle (LV) in humans according to both CA and BA and characterize the contribution of microRNAs, key transcriptional regulators. BA is measured using two CA-associated transcriptional markers: CDKN2A expression, a cell senescence marker, and apparent age (AppAge), a highly complex transcriptional index. Bioinformatics analysis of 132 LV samples shows that CDKN2A expression and AppAge represent transcriptomic changes better than CA. Both BA markers are biologically validated in relation to an aging phenotype associated with heart dysfunction, the amount of cardiac fibrosis. BA-based analyses uncover depleted cardiac-specific processes, among other relevant functions, that are undetected by CA. Twenty BA-related microRNAs are identified, and two of them highly heart-enriched that are present in plasma. We describe a microRNA-gene regulatory network related to cardiac processes that are partially validated in vitro and in LV samples from living donors. We prove the higher sensitivity of BA over CA to explain transcriptomic changes in the aging myocardium and report novel molecular insights into human LV biological aging. Our results can find application in future therapeutic and biomarker research

Does surrounding greenness moderate the relationship between apparent temperature and physical activity? Findings from the PHENOTYPE project

Background: Physical activity can be affected by both meteorological conditions and surrounding greenness, but few studies have evaluated the effects of these environmental factors on physical activity simultaneously. This multi-city comparative study aimed to assess the synergetic effects of apparent temperature and surrounding greenness on physical activity in four European cities. Specifically, we aimed to identify an interaction between surrounding greenness and apparent temperature in the effects on physical activity. Methods: Data were collected from 352 adult residents of Barcelona (Spain), Stoke-on-Trent (United Kingdom), Doetinchem (The Netherlands), and Kaunas (Lithuania) as part of the PHENOTYPE study. Participants wore a smartphone for seven consecutive days between May-December 2013 and provided additional sociodemographic survey data. Hourly average physical activity (Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET)) and surrounding greenness (NDVI) were derived from the Calfit mobile application collecting accelerometer and location data. Hourly apparent temperature was calculated from temperature and relative humidity, which were obtained from local meteorological stations along with other meteorological covariates (rainfall, windspeed, and sky darkness). We assessed the interaction effects of apparent temperature and surrounding greenness on hourly physical activity for each city using linear mixed models, while adjusting for meteorological, demographic, and time-related variables. Results: We found significant interactions between apparent temperature and surrounding greenness on hourly physical activity in all four cities. Significant quadratic effects of apparent temperature were found in the highest level of surrounding greenness for Stoke-on-Trent and Doetinchem, with 4% decrease in median MET observed for a 10°C departure from optimal temperature (15.2°C and 14.6°C, respectively). On the other hand, significant linear effects were found for higher levels of surrounding greenness in Barcelona and Kaunas, whereby an increase of 10°C was associated with ∼4% increase in median MET. Conclusion: Apparent temperature and surrounding greenness interacted in the effect on hourly physical activity across the four European cities, with varying effect between cities. While quadratic effects of temperature suggest diminishing levels of physical activity in the highest greenness levels in cities of temperate climates, the variation in surrounding greenness between cities could be further explored, particularly by looking at indoor-outdoor locations. The study findings support the need for evidence-based physical activity promotion and urban design

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity