Electromyographic Assessment of the Efficacy of Deep Dry Needling versus the Ischemic Compression Technique in Gastrocnemius of Medium-Distance Triathletes.

Several studies have shown that gastrocnemius is frequently injured in triathletes. The causes of these injuries are similar to those that cause the appearance of the myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). The ischemic compression technique (ICT) and deep dry needling (DDN) are considered two of the main MPS treatment methods in latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). In this study superficial electromyographic (EMG) activity in lateral and medial gastrocnemius of triathletes with latent MTrPs was measured before and immediately after either DDN or ICT treatment. Taking into account superficial EMG activity of lateral and medial gastrocnemius, the immediate effectiveness in latent MTrPs of both DDN and ICT was compared. A total of 34 triathletes was randomly divided in two groups. The first and second groups (n = 17 in each group) underwent only one session of DDN and ICT, respectively. EMG measurement of gastrocnemius was assessed before and immediately after treatment. Statistically significant differences (p = 0.037) were shown for a reduction of superficial EMG measurements differences (%) of the experimental group (DDN) with respect to the intervention group (ICT) at a speed of 1 m/s immediately after both interventions, although not at speeds of 1.5 m/s or 2.5 m/s. A statistically significant linear regression prediction model was shown for EMG outcome measurement differences at V1 (speed of 1 m/s) which was only predicted for the treatment group (R2 = 0.129; = 8.054; F = 4.734; p = 0.037) showing a reduction of this difference under DDN treatment. DDN administration requires experience and excellent anatomical knowledge. According to our findings immediately after treatment of latent MTrPs, DDN could be advisable for triathletes who train at a speed lower than 1 m/s, while ICT could be a more advisable technique than DDN for training or competitions at speeds greater than 1.5 m/s.post-print1181 K

Técnicas y materiales de caracterización aplicados a la escultura

Recorrido por distintos procesos, técnicas y materiales procedentes del ámbito de la caracterización (efectos especiales) y su posible aplicación al terreno de la escultura. Contenidos: Captura de registro de rostro sobre modelo del natural y su posterior transferencia a elastómero traslúcido para proceder a su caracterización (efecto piel, inserciones de pelo, maquillaje, etc). Materiales de caracterización: espuma de poliuretano, foam látex, silicona de adicción, silicona de reconstrucción maxilofacial, flockings, plastilinas especiales, gelatinas, alginatos, etc

Spontaneous gram-negative bacillary meningitis in adult patients : characteristics and outcome

Background: Spontaneous meningitis caused by gram-negative bacilli in adult patients is uncommon and poorly characterized. Our objective is to describe and compare the characteristics and the outcome of adult patients with spontaneous gram-negative bacilli meningitis (GNBM) and spontaneous meningitis due to other pathogens. Methods: Prospective single hospital-based observational cohort study conducted between 1982 and 2006 in a university tertiary hospital in Barcelona (Spain). The Main Outcome Measure: In-hospital mortality. Results: Gram-negative bacilli meningitis was diagnosed in 40 (7%) of 544 episodes of spontaneous acute bacterial meningitis. The most common pathogens were Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas species. On admission, characteristics associated with spontaneous gram-negative bacilli meningitis by multivariate modeling were advanced age, history of cancer, nosocomial acquisition of infection, urinary tract infection as distant focus of infection, absence of rash, hypotension, and a high cerebrospinal fluid white-cell count. Nine (23%) episodes were acquired in the hospital and they were most commonly caused by Pseudomonas. The in-hospital mortality rate was 53%. The mortality rate was higher among patients with Gram-negative bacillary meningitis than among those with other bacterial meningitis and their risk of death was twenty times higher than among patients infected with Neisseria meningitidis (odds ratio 20.47; 95% confidence interval 4.03-103.93; p<0.001). Conclusions: Gram-negative bacilli cause 9% of spontaneous bacterial meningitis of known etiology in adults. Characteristics associated with GNBM include advanced age, history of cancer, nosocomial acquisition, and urinary tract infection as distant focus of infection. The mortality rate is higher among patients with gram-negative bacillary meningitis than among those with other bacterial meningitides

Uso de modelos uni- y bidimensionales en llanuras de inundación. Aplicación al caso del río Tajo en Talavera de la Reina

[ES] En este trabajo se presenta la experiencia de uso de un modelo hidráulico unidimensional (Hec- Ras) y uno bidimensional (Feswms) en el estudio de la inundabilidad de Talavera de la Reina por el río Tajo. Se revisan los fundamentos y se analizan las aplicaciones de estos modelos, extrayendo las enseñanzas prácticas de sus virtudes e inconvenientes. La avenida de 1947 en Talavera, que teóricamente superó los 7000 m3/s se analiza con detalle.Este trabajo es un resultado del proyecto FEDER I+D 1FD972110C0201Martin Vide, JP.; López Querol, S.; Martín Moreta, P.; Simarro Grande, G.; Benito Ferrández, G. (2003). Uso de modelos uni- y bidimensionales en llanuras de inundación. Aplicación al caso del río Tajo en Talavera de la Reina. Ingeniería del agua. 10(1):49-58. https://doi.org/10.4995/ia.2003.2576OJS4958101U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hydrologic Engineering Center (2001) HEC-RAS. River Analysis System. Hydraulic Reference Manual. Version 3.0U.S. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. FESWMS-2DS: Finite Element Surface -Water Modelling System: Two - Dimensional Flow in a Horizontal Plane. Users ManualMartín-Vide, J.P (1997) Ingeniería fluvial. Edicions UPC, Barcelona.Martín-Vide, J.P.; Prió, J.M.; Bateman, A. "Backwater effects in arch bridges under free and submerged conditions". Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE (en revisión, 2002).Maza Alvarez, J.A.; García Flores, M. Transporte de sedimentos. Capítulo 10 del Manual de Ingeniería de Ríos. Instituto de Ingeniería de la UNAM, México 1996

Neurohormonal activation induces intracellular iron deficiency and mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiac cells

Cèl·lula cardíaca; Deficiència de ferro; Activació neurohormonalCardiac cell; Iron deficiency; Neurohormonal activationCélula cardíaca; Deficiencia de hierro; Activación neurohormonalBackground Iron deficiency (ID) is common in patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with poor outcomes, yet its role in the pathophysiology of HF is not well-defined. We sought to determine the consequences of HF neurohormonal activation in iron homeostasis and mitochondrial function in cardiac cells. Methods HF was induced in C57BL/6 mice by using isoproterenol osmotic pumps and embryonic rat heart-derived H9c2 cells were subsequently challenged with Angiotensin II and/or Norepinephrine. The expression of several genes and proteins related to intracellular iron metabolism were assessed by Real time-PCR and immunoblotting, respectively. The intracellular iron levels were also determined. Mitochondrial function was analyzed by studying the mitochondrial membrane potential, the accumulation of radical oxygen species (ROS) and the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. Results Hearts from isoproterenol-stimulated mice showed a decreased in both mRNA and protein levels of iron regulatory proteins, transferrin receptor 1, ferroportin 1 and hepcidin compared to control mice. Furthermore, mitoferrin 2 and mitochondrial ferritin were also downregulated in the hearts from HF mice. Similar data regarding these key iron regulatory molecules were found in the H9c2 cells challenged with neurohormonal stimuli. Accordingly, a depletion of intracellular iron levels was found in the stimulated cells compared to non-stimulated cells, as well as in the hearts from the isoproterenol-induced HF mice. Finally, neurohormonal activation impaired mitochondrial function as indicated by the accumulation of ROS, the impaired mitochondrial membrane potential and the decrease in the ATP levels in the cardiac cells. Conclusions HF characteristic neurohormonal activation induced changes in the regulation of key molecules involved in iron homeostasis, reduced intracellular iron levels and impaired mitochondrial function. The current results suggest that iron could be involved in the pathophysiology of HF.This work was funded by the following Grants: unrestricted grant from Vifor Pharma and Basic Research Competitive Grant in Cardiology from the Spanish Society of Cardiology 2015

Surveillance of imported malaria in Spain: The useful tool of the Semi-Nested Multiplex PCR

The use of a new PCR-based method for the diagnosis of malaria in the Spanish Malaria Reference Laboratory has promoted an increase in confirmed cases of malaria. From August 1997 to July 1998, a total of 192 whole-blood samples and 71 serum samples from 168 patients were received from the hospitals of the Spanish National Health System. Most of the patients came from west-central African countries (85%). This molecular method showed more sensitivity and specificity than microscopy, detecting 12.4% more positive samples than microscopy and 13% of mixed infections undetectable by Giemsa stain. Plasmodium falciparum was the main species detected, with 68% of the total positive malaria cases, followed by Plasmodium malariae (29%), Plasmodium vivax (14%), and Plasmodium ovale (7%), including mixed infections in all cases. This report consists of the first wide, centralized survey of malaria surveillance in Spain. The reference laboratory conducted the analysis of all imported cases in order to detect trends in acquisition. The use of a seminested multiplex PCR permitted confirmation of the origins of the infections and the Plasmodium species involved and confirmation of the effectiveness of drug treatments. This PCR also allowed the detection of the presence in Spain of primaquine-tolerant P. vivax strains from west-central Africa, as well as the detection of a P. falciparum infection induced by transfusion.This work was supported by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS) (contract number 96/0216) and the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation (AECI). J. M. Rubio was granted a postdoctoral fellowship from the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. J. Alvar was supported by a B.A.E. from the FIS (contract number 99/5038) and by the Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdo

Flexor Digitorum Brevis Muscle Dry Needling Changes Surface and Plantar Pressures: A Pre-Post Study

[Abstract] Background: The effects of the dry needling technique and pain reduction have been demonstrated in numerous quality studies. However, the mechanical effects of dry needling are largely unknown. Methods: A total of 18 subjects with flexor digitorum brevis muscle myofascial trigger point were evaluated pre- and post-deep dry needling. We measured static footprint variables in a pre–post study. Main findings: We found differences in rearfoot maximum pressure (119.22–111.63 KPa; p = 0.025), midfoot maximum pressure (13.68–17.26 KPa; p = 0.077), midfoot medium pressure (4.75–6.24 KPa; p = 0.035) and forefoot surface (86.58–81.75 cm2; p = 0.020). All variables with significant differences decrease, with the exception of forefoot surface which showed an increase. Conclusions: After flexor digitorum brevis muscle dry needling, midfoot plantar pressures (maximum and medium) and forefoot surface were increased, and rearfoot maximum pressure was decreased

Production of small peptides and low molecular weight amino acids by subcritical water from fish meal: Effect of pressurization agent and temperature

Trabajo presentado en: 19th European meeting on Supercritical Fluids (EMSF 2023), organized by the International Society for the Advancement of Supercritical Fluids, Budapest, 21-24 may, 2023Fish meal is a by-product obtained in the marine food industry that is actually used in aquaculture and pet-food industry. It presents a high protein content as well as a valuable lipid fraction composition. The protein fraction from marine origin has a high nutritional value and a great amino acid profile. In order to improve the use of this by-product, more sustainable forms of exploiting it must be considered and the products obtained more useful.This work was supported by the AEI [grant numbers PID2019-104950RB-I00, PID2020-116716RJ-I00, TED2021-129311B-I00, PDC2022-133443-I00] and the JCyL and the ERDF [grant number BU050P20]. P. Barea predoctoral contract was funded by JCyL and the European Social Fund (ESF) by ORDEN EDU/1868/2022, de 19 de diciembre. P. Alonso-Riaño predoctoral contract was funded by JCyL and the European Social Fund (ESF) by ORDEN EDU/556/2019, de 5 de junio. R. Melgosa contract was funded by a Beatriz Galindo Research Fellowship [BG20/00182]. A. Bermejo López acknowledges the Margarita Salas grant (MARSA22/03)

El diseño del modelo y prototipo. Herramientas para la comunicación y evaluación

En los proyectos de diseño y desarrollo de producto los modelos y prototipos físicos sirven como símbolos accesibles del futuro producto. Facilitan la definición de metas concretas y unifican a los equipos involucrados en todo el proceso. Tanto el diseño de las características como la elección de las técnicas empleadas en la fabricación de éstos depende de los diferentes aspectos del proyecto que vayan a ser evaluados . En el presente artículo se analiza a través de la literatura existente y la experiencia recogida en casos reales los criterios necesarios para la elección de la mejor de las opciones.Conejero Rodilla, A.; Martínez Torán, MB.; Ayala López, PJ.; Fernandez-Vicente, M. (2012). El diseño del modelo y prototipo. Herramientas para la comunicación y evaluación. Deforma Cultura Online. 1-7. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/70584S1

Polyethylene microplastics do not increase bioaccumuation or toxicity of nonylphenol and 4-MBC to marine zooplankton

Global production of synthetic polymers, led by polyethylene (PE), rose steadily in the last decades, and marine ecosystems are considered as a global sink. Although PE is not biodegradable, in coastal areas it fragments into microplastics (MP) readily taken up by biota, and have been postulated as vectors of hydrophobic chemicals to marine organisms. We have tested this hypothesis using two organisms representative of the marine plankton, the holoplanktonic copepod Acartia clausi, and the meroplanktonic larva of the Paracentrotus lividus sea-urchin, and two model chemicals with similar hydrophobic properties, the 4-n-Nonylphenol and the 4-Methylbenzylidene-camphor used as plastic additive and UV filter in cosmetics. Both test species actively ingested the MP particles. However, the presence of MP never increased the bioaccumulation of neither model chemicals, nor their toxicity to the exposed organisms. Bioaccumulation was a linear function of waterborne chemical disregarding the level of MP. Toxicity, assessed by the threshold (EC10) and median (EC50) effect levels, was either independent of the level of MP or even in some instances significantly decreased in the presence of MPs. These consistent results challenge the assumption that MP act as vectors of hydrophobic chemicals to planktonic marine organismsThis study has received funding by the Spanish Government (MINECO/AEI) through Projects PCIN-2015-187-C03-03 (JPI Oceans EPHEMARE), PCIN-2015-170-C02-01 (JPI Oceans BASEMAN), CTM2016-77945-C3, and CTM2017-84763-C3-2-R, by Xunta de Galicia through “Program of Consolidation and structuring of competitive research groups in the University system of Galicia” (Refs GRC2013-004, ED431C 2017/28 and ED431C 2017/36), and by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). N. S.-G. was granted with a postdoctoral fellowship Mod. A (2016) by Axencia Galega de Innovación (GAIN), Xunta de GaliciaS