A case of spongiform polioencephalomyelopathy in a cat with a history of behavioural problems

A 7-month-old, entire female, domestic shorthair cat was referred to our behavioural service owing to soiling in the house and a play-related problem. The owners' complaints were that the cat had never used the litter tray, and it did not know how to play. After reviewing the behavioural history, a problem of substrate preferences acquisition was suspected with regard to the elimination problem. During the consultation, the physical examination was unremarkable, but the neurological examination revealed a moderate and hypermetric ataxic gait, and a bilateral lack of menace response. Some degree of visual impairment was suspected. The problem was located in the central nervous system (CNS); specifically, an intracranial and multifocal problem was diagnosed. After a complete work-up (complete ophthalmological examination, complete blood count and a complete biochemistry panel, feline immunodeficiency virus/feline leukaemia virus test, thorax radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, brain magnetic resonance imaging [0.2 T], cerebrospinal fluid analysis and a urinary metabolic screen test), a degenerative CNS problem was suspected. No treatment was prescribed for the neurological problem. Regarding the problem of soiling in the house, reward-based training with a clicker was used, and the cat partially improved in a few weeks. Three months later, the cat was referred to the neurology service in status epilepticus. A symptomatic treatment was prescribed, with a mild response. After 2 years of treatment and a progressive worsening, the cat was euthanased. Necropsy revealed spongiform polioencephalomyelopathy. In order to rule out prion aetiology a PrPsc inmunohistochemistry assay was performed, and the results were negative. Congenital spongiform polioencephalomyelopathy (CSP) was diagnosed. We strongly suggest that the cat's behavioural clinical signs were caused by the CSP, causing learning impairment. To the best of our knowledge, this would be the first case in which a congenital degenerative disease affected a cat's capability to learn, leading to behavioural signs as the main complaint of the owners, even before neurological signs are detected by the owners

Key Factors Associated With Pulmonary Sequelae in the Follow-Up of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

Introduction: Critical COVID-19 survivors have a high risk of respiratory sequelae. Therefore, we aimed to identify key factors associated with altered lung function and CT scan abnormalities at a follow-up visit in a cohort of critical COVID-19 survivors. Methods: Multicenter ambispective observational study in 52 Spanish intensive care units. Up to 1327 PCR-confirmed critical COVID-19 patients had sociodemographic, anthropometric, comorbidity and lifestyle characteristics collected at hospital admission; clinical and biological parameters throughout hospital stay; and, lung function and CT scan at a follow-up visit. Results: The median [p25–p75] time from discharge to follow-up was 3.57 [2.77–4.92] months. Median age was 60 [53–67] years, 27.8% women. The mean (SD) percentage of predicted diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) at follow-up was 72.02 (18.33)% predicted, with 66% of patients having DLCO < 80% and 24% having DLCO < 60%. CT scan showed persistent pulmonary infiltrates, fibrotic lesions, and emphysema in 33%, 25% and 6% of patients, respectively. Key variables associated with DLCO < 60% were chronic lung disease (CLD) (OR: 1.86 (1.18–2.92)), duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (OR: 1.56 (1.37–1.77)), age (OR [per-1-SD] (95%CI): 1.39 (1.18–1.63)), urea (OR: 1.16 (0.97–1.39)) and estimated glomerular filtration rate at ICU admission (OR: 0.88 (0.73–1.06)). Bacterial pneumonia (1.62 (1.11–2.35)) and duration of ventilation (NIMV (1.23 (1.06–1.42), IMV (1.21 (1.01–1.45)) and prone positioning (1.17 (0.98–1.39)) were associated with fibrotic lesions. Conclusion: Age and CLD, reflecting patients’ baseline vulnerability, and markers of COVID-19 severity, such as duration of IMV and renal failure, were key factors associated with impaired DLCO and CT abnormalities

Post-Franco Theatre

In the multiple realms and layers that comprise the contemporary Spanish theatrical landscape, “crisis” would seem to be the word that most often lingers in the air, as though it were a common mantra, ready to roll off the tongue of so many theatre professionals with such enormous ease, and even enthusiasm, that one is prompted to wonder whether it might indeed be a miracle that the contemporary technological revolution – coupled with perpetual quandaries concerning public and private funding for the arts – had not by now brought an end to the evolution of the oldest of live arts, or, at the very least, an end to drama as we know it

Bioelectrochemical transformation of carbon dioxide to target compounds through microbial electrosynthesis

In 2015 the average concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere exceeded 400 ppm. Some technologies, including CO2 capture and storage, are palliative. However, the development of alternatives to burning of fossil fuels focuses on the base of the problem and proposes substantial changes in the energy model. This thesis proposes the use of bioelectrochemical systems to transform CO2 into valuable products. This process is known as microbial electrosynthesis, and is based on the use of bacteria able to use the electrode as an electron donor (biocathode) to drive CO2 reduction. The results show that the production of hydrogen as intermediate is key to allow further CO2 reduction. This thesis has proven methane production, and organic liquid compounds of two (acetic acid) and four (butyric acid) carbons. The results invite to continue investigating to exploit all the potential of BES and enable its industrial scalabilityEl 2015 la concentració mitjana de CO2 a l’atmosfera va superar per primera vegada les 400 ppm. Algunes tecnologies, com la captura i emmagatzematge de CO2, són pal·liatives. En canvi, el desenvolupament d’alternatives a la crema de combustibles fòssils van a l’arrel del problema i proposen canvis substancials en el model energètic. Aquesta tesi planteja l’ús dels sistemes bioelectroquímics per transformar el CO2 en productes amb valor afegit. Aquest procés es coneix com electrosíntesi microbiana, i es basa en la utilització de bacteris capaços d’utilitzar l’elèctrode com a donador d’electrons (biocàtode) per portar a terme la reducció de CO2. Els resultats demostren que la producció d’hidrogen com a compost intermedi es la clau per poder portar a terme la reducció de CO2. Aquesta tesi ha demostrat la producció de metà, i compostos líquids orgànics de dos (acid acètic) i quatre (acid butíric) carbonis. Els resultats esperonen a continuar investigant per aprofitar tot el potencial dels BES i fer possible la seva escalabilitat industria

Microbial electrosynthesis of butyrate from carbon dioxide

This work proves for the first time the bioelectrochemical production of butyrate from CO2 as a sole carbon source. The highest concentration of butyrate achieved was 20.2 mMC, with a maximum butyrate production rate of 1.82 mMC d(-1). The electrochemical characterisation demonstrated that the CO2 reduction to butyrate was hydrogen driven. Production of ethanol and butanol was also observed opening up the potential for biofuel production

La Cátedra de Promoción de la Salud como centro difusión de recursos documentales en promoción de la Salud

Introducción: La Cátedra de promoción de la Salud de la Universitat de Girona promueve el estudio, la formación y la divulgación en la promoción de la salud mediante la organización de actividades, el trabajo en red y la difusión científica en el ámbito nacional e internacional. En su catálogo de servicio se encuentran actividades de formación, investigación, difusión y transferencia del conocimiento y publicaciones. Ésta última tiene como objetivo actualizar la formación de los profesionales, transferir conocimientos en salud a la comunidad, facilitar el acceso a las fuentes de información difundir nuevas perspectivas en promoción de la salud y construir un fórum de referencia para el intercambio de reflexiones y experiencias. Material y método: Creación del fondo documental que ha sido transferido a la Biblioteca de la Universitat de Girona, siendo consultable electrónicamente. Diseño de un boletín electrónico BepSALUT para promover la comunicación intersectorial en promoción de la salud, difundir perspectivas en el ámbito nacional e internacional y constituir un fórum de referencia para el intercambio de experiencias. Creación de una línea de publicaciones propias. Resultados: El fondo documental dispone de más de 3.000 documentos, procedentes de diferentes instituciones y organismos. Se han publicado 13 números de BepSALUT, han colaborado más de 50 expertos, dispone de más de 280 suscripciones y 1.000 lectores. El número de publicación de libros propios asciende a un total de 12, que en formato electrónico tienen acceso gratuito. Conclusiones: El fondo documental de la Cátedra de Promoción y el BepSALUT se han convertido en instrumentos facilitadores de nuevas perspectivas, avances, recursos y experiencias y facilitan la transferencia de conocimientos. El acceso a todas las publicaciones de la Cátedra de Promoción de la Salud es abierto para que todas las universidades puedan acceder y participar

Tracking bio-hydrogen-mediated production of commodity chemicals from carbon dioxide and renewable electricity

This study reveals that reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to commodity chemicals can be functionally compartmentalized in bioelectrochemical systems. In the present example, a syntrophic consortium composed by H2-producers (Rhodobacter sp.) in the biofilm is combined with carboxidotrophic Clostridium species, mainly found in the bulk liquid. The performance of these H2-mediated electricity-driven systems could be tracked by the activity of a biological H2sensory protein identified at cathode potentials between −0.2 V and −0.3 V vs SHE. This seems to point out that such signal is not strain specific, but could be detected in any organism containing hydrogenases. Thus, the findings of this work open the door to the development of a biosensor application or soft sensors for monitoring such systemsThe authors would like to thank the Spanish Ministry (CTQ2014-53718-R and CTM2013-43454-R) and the University of Girona (MPCUdG2016/137) for theirs financial support. LEQUIA and IEA have been recognised as consolidated research groups by the Catalan Government (2014-SGR-1168, and 2014-SGR-484). R. G. gratefully acknowledges support from Ghent University BOF postdoctoral fellowship (BOF15/PDO/068). P.B-V gratefully acknowledges the Catalan Government for the pre-doctoral grant received (2015FI-B2 00076

On the edge of research and technological application: a critical review of electromethanogenesis

The conversion of electrical current intomethane (electromethanogenesis) bymicrobes represents one of the most promising applications of bioelectrochemical systems (BES). Electromethanogenesis provides a novel approach to waste treatment, carbon dioxide fixation and renewable energy storage into a chemically stable compound, such as methane. This has become an important area of research since it was first described, attracting different research groups worldwide. Basics of the process such as microorganisms involved and main reactions are now much better understood, and recent advances in BES configuration and electrode materials in lab-scale enhance the interest in this technology. However, there are still some gaps that need to be filled to move towards its application. Side reactions or scaling-up issues are clearly among the main challenges that need to be overcome to its further development. This review summarizes the recent advances made in the field of electromethanogenesis to address the main future challenges and opportunities of this novel process. In addition, the present fundamental knowledge is critically reviewed and some insights are provided to identify potential niche applications and help researchers to overcome current technological boundaries. © 2017 by the authors