Trematominae and Artedidraconinae: contrasted mitogenome evolution for two Antarctic radiations

Cellular respiration has been widely studied in Antarctic teleost fishes because of their peculiar adaptations to an extreme environment. In parallel mitochondrial sequence markers have become highly popular for molecular systematics. However, there are few whole mitochondrial genome sequences published, and none available for some of the subfamilies. Here, we present two large mitogenome datasets including most species and multiple sequences for many species of two subfamilies, Trematominae and Artedidraconinae (Duhamel et al. 2014). These include two highly diverse but very different adaptative radiations, with contrasting divergence dates, morphological polymorphism, and habitat dominance. The sampling is based on a well identified, extensive collection resulting from the 2008 CEAMARC survey and the subsequent REVOLTA surveys in Terre Adélie (IPEV), already DNA barcoded and sequenced in previous studies. The mitogenome sequences for these two subfamilies differ in composition, gene order, and relative divergence of mitochondrial markers, with strong, taxon-specific biases like very high C contents in some regions. The gene order change provides a synapomorphy for the subfamily Trematominae and an interesting development in teleost mitogenomes. The complete Artedidraconinae mitogenomes provide a much higher amount of variable sites (approx*30), while previous sequence datasets were plagued by low informativeness (Lecointre et al. 2011). As already established on single mitochondrial genes, intraspecific variability is lower than interspecific variability within each subfamily, however interspecific variability in Artedidraconinae is lower or similar to intraspecific variability in Trematominae. This expanded dataset confirms the unusual evolution of the mitochondrial coded sequences involved in the cellular respiration in Antarctic Nototheniidae, as well as the usefulness of complete mitochondrial genomes for their systematics. The two level multiplexing (Timmermans et al. 2010) and next generation sequencing of long PCR amplicons (following Hinsinger et al. 2015) is efficient to obtain large mitogenomic datasets representative of both inter- and intraspecific variability, key to the understanding of mitochondrial evolution and a step closer to resolving the relationships among these taxa.RECTO (Refugia and Ecosystem Tolerance in the Southern Ocean, BR/154/A1/RECTO

Guidelines to design tangible tabletop activities for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most frequent neurodevelopmental disorders among children. In spite of this, there is a lack of HCI research specifically devoted to these children. This paper describes efforts to transfer previous experience with other neurodiverse children in the field of tangible tabletops to ADHD children. The results of evaluation sessions carried out in conjunction with an ADHD association, complemented with an in-depth study of their special characteristics and needs, have led to a set of guidelines oriented to the design of tangible tabletop activities. These guidelines are mostly general and applicable to the design of any interactive application oriented to ADHD children. They are also appropriate for applications for other neurodiverse children or, in fact, any child from a more inclusive perspective

Application of molecular topology in the prediction of new compounds with anti-trypanosomal cytotoxic activity

La enfermedad de Chagas es una antropozoonosis parasitaria de transmisión mayoritariamente vectorial. Si bien afecta principalmente a América, constituye una de las mayores enfermedades desatendidas a nivel mundial. Solamente dos fármacos con un alto grado de toxicidad se encuentran disponibles para su tratamiento, por lo que es preciso aunar esfuerzos en pos del desarrollo de nuevas drogas antitripanosomales eficaces y con escasos efectos adversos. En este estudio, se aplicó la topología molecular para el desarrollo de un modelo QSAR capaz de predecir la actividad citotóxica antitripanosomal de un grupo de 39 compuestos. El modelo desarrollado mediante análisis lineal discriminante permitió clasificar correctamente al 93,3 % de los compuestos activos estudiados. Para la predicción de la potencia antitripanosomal se empleó un análisis de regresión multilineal, que fue capaz de explicar el 90,8 % de la varianza. Ambos análisis fueron validados mediante un test interno de tipo “leave some out”. Se aplicó el modelo obtenido a nuevos compuestos, destacándose ocho moléculas potencialmente activas que podrán ser utilizadas en futuros ensayos preclínicos.Chagas disease is a protozoan anthropozoonosis primarily transmitted by vectors. America is the main affected continent, although it is considered a worldwide neglected tropical disease. Only two drugs with a high toxicity level are available for its treatment. Because of this, it is necessary to make an effort in order to develop new effective and safe therapies. In this study, molecular topology was used to create a QSAR model to predict anti-trypanosomal cytotoxic activity in a group of 39 compounds. Linear discriminant analysis correctly classified 93.3 % of the active studied compounds. To predict the anti-trypanosomal potency, multilinear regression analysis was used; being this capable of explaining 90.8 % of the variance. Both analyses were validated by an internal “leave some out” test. The resulting model was applied to new compounds, selecting eight of them as potential active molecules that could be used in future preclinical studies.Ciencias Experimentale

Impact Factor: outdated artefact or stepping-stone to journal certification?

A review of Garfield's journal impact factor and its specific implementation as the Thomson Reuters Impact Factor reveals several weaknesses in this commonly-used indicator of journal standing. Key limitations include the mismatch between citing and cited documents, the deceptive display of three decimals that belies the real precision, and the absence of confidence intervals. These are minor issues that are easily amended and should be corrected, but more substantive improvements are needed. There are indications that the scientific community seeks and needs better certification of journal procedures to improve the quality of published science. Comprehensive certification of editorial and review procedures could help ensure adequate procedures to detect duplicate and fraudulent submissions.Comment: 25 pages, 12 figures, 6 table

Commentaries on Viewpoint: The ongoing need for good physiological investigation: Obstructive sleep apnea in HIV patients as a paradigm

The final publication is available via http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00989.2014[Abstract] The intriguing paradigm put forth by Darquenne et al. (3) highlighted that improved therapy against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has come at the cost of elevated rates of chronic diseases, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity, during the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad; TIN2013-40686-P

Indicator for patient safety: Readmission within 30 days for nosocomial infection.

Objetivos: Describir la frecuencia de reingresos en 30 días por infección nosocomial en el “Hospital Torrecárdenas” de Almería. Materiales y métodos: 25.653 episodios. El reingreso por infección nosocomial (IN): proporción de pacientes al alta de cada uno de los episodios hospitalarios durante el periodo de estudio que son reingresados de modo urgente en 30 días con IN, ya conste como diagnóstico principal del nuevo ingreso. Resultados: Proporción de reingresos por IN es 2,6‰ (IC95% 2,0 – 3,3), que supone un total de 67 episodios de reingreso por IN (5,0% del total). Unidad con mas reingresos por IN: UGC de urología 9,7‰ (IC95% 1,9 – 17,4)). Mayor probabilidad de reingreso se asocia al sexo masculino, a una mayor edad, a determinados diagnósticos y servicio al alta. Las unidades de hospitalización con más reingresos: salud mental, obstetricia, oncología radioterápica, oncología y reumatología, sin embargo, las unidades con mas reingresos por IN: urología, angiología y C.Vascular, oncología, neumología y cardiología. Las enfermedades que destacan como reingreso por IN: “otras alteraciones de uretra y vías urinaria” “infección postoperatoria, no clasificada en otro lugar”. Discusión y conclusiones: Se ha caracterizado el patrón de reingresos por IN en el hospital de Torrecárdenas, utilizándose para ser utilizado para implementar acciones preventivas y como un indicador de calidad asistencial.Objectives: To describe the frequency of readmission within 30 days for nosocomial infection at the “Hospital Torrecardenas” of Almeria. Material and methods: The source is from 1/1/2007 to 31/1/2008 CMBDh, analyzed 25,653 episodes. Readmissions for nosocomial infection (NI): proportion of patients at discharge for each hospital episode during the study period that are so urgently readmitted in 30 days with IN, and is credited as the primary diagnosis of new entry or as a diagnosis secondary. Descriptive analysis of variables such as age, sex, high service, month high, episode duration and primary diagnosis, using association between variables.Results: The proportion of readmissions by IN is 2.6 ‰ (IC95% 2,0–3,3), representing a total of 67 episodes of readmission for IN (5.0% of readmissions). The unit with more readmissions for IN was the hospital's urology unit (9.7 ‰ (IC95% 1,9–17,4)). A higher probability of readmission was associated with male gender, older age, certain diagnostic and service to hospital discharge. Inpatient units with more readmissions: mental health, obstetrics, radiation oncology, oncology and rheumatology, however, drives with more readmissions IN: urology, Angiology and Vascular C., oncology, pulmonology and cardiology. The diseases that stand out as readmission for IN are “other disorders of urethra and urinary tract” “postoperative infection, not elsewhere classified”. Conclusions: We have characterized the pattern of readmissions due to infections in the hospital Torrecárdenas, used to be used to implement preventive measures as an indicator of quality

Clinical and organizational factors associated with mortality during the peak of first COVID-19 wave: the global UNITE-COVID study

Purpose: To accommodate the unprecedented number of critically ill patients with pneumonia caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) expansion of the capacity of intensive care unit (ICU) to clinical areas not previously used for critical care was necessary. We describe the global burden of COVID-19 admissions and the clinical and organizational characteristics associated with outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Methods: Multicenter, international, point prevalence study, including adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a diagnosis of COVID-19 admitted to ICU between February 15th and May 15th, 2020. Results: 4994 patients from 280 ICUs in 46 countries were included. Included ICUs increased their total capacity from 4931 to 7630 beds, deploying personnel from other areas. Overall, 1986 (39.8%) patients were admitted to surge capacity beds. Invasive ventilation at admission was present in 2325 (46.5%) patients and was required during ICU stay in 85.8% of patients. 60-day mortality was 33.9% (IQR across units: 20%–50%) and ICU mortality 32.7%. Older age, invasive mechanical ventilation, and acute kidney injury (AKI) were associated with increased mortality. These associations were also confirmed specifically in mechanically ventilated patients. Admission to surge capacity beds was not associated with mortality, even after controlling for other factors. Conclusions: ICUs responded to the increase in COVID-19 patients by increasing bed availability and staff, admitting up to 40% of patients in surge capacity beds. Although mortality in this population was high, admission to a surge capacity bed was not associated with increased mortality. Older age, invasive mechanical ventilation, and AKI were identified as the strongest predictors of mortality

Co-infection and ICU-acquired infection in COIVD-19 ICU patients: a secondary analysis of the UNITE-COVID data set

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented major challenges for critical care facilities worldwide. Infections which develop alongside or subsequent to viral pneumonitis are a challenge under sporadic and pandemic conditions; however, data have suggested that patterns of these differ between COVID-19 and other viral pneumonitides. This secondary analysis aimed to explore patterns of co-infection and intensive care unit-acquired infections (ICU-AI) and the relationship to use of corticosteroids in a large, international cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients.Methods: This is a multicenter, international, observational study, including adult patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis admitted to ICUs at the peak of wave one of COVID-19 (February 15th to May 15th, 2020). Data collected included investigator-assessed co-infection at ICU admission, infection acquired in ICU, infection with multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) and antibiotic use. Frequencies were compared by Pearson's Chi-squared and continuous variables by Mann-Whitney U test. Propensity score matching for variables associated with ICU-acquired infection was undertaken using R library MatchIT using the "full" matching method.Results: Data were available from 4994 patients. Bacterial co-infection at admission was detected in 716 patients (14%), whilst 85% of patients received antibiotics at that stage. ICU-AI developed in 2715 (54%). The most common ICU-AI was bacterial pneumonia (44% of infections), whilst 9% of patients developed fungal pneumonia; 25% of infections involved MDRO. Patients developing infections in ICU had greater antimicrobial exposure than those without such infections. Incident density (ICU-AI per 1000 ICU days) was in considerable excess of reports from pre-pandemic surveillance. Corticosteroid use was heterogenous between ICUs. In univariate analysis, 58% of patients receiving corticosteroids and 43% of those not receiving steroids developed ICU-AI. Adjusting for potential confounders in the propensity-matched cohort, 71% of patients receiving corticosteroids developed ICU-AI vs 52% of those not receiving corticosteroids. Duration of corticosteroid therapy was also associated with development of ICU-AI and infection with an MDRO.Conclusions: In patients with severe COVID-19 in the first wave, co-infection at admission to ICU was relatively rare but antibiotic use was in substantial excess to that indication. ICU-AI were common and were significantly associated with use of corticosteroids