Use of Slaughterhouse Sludge in the Bioremediation of an Oxyfluorfen-Polluted Soil

The use of organic matter is a highly accepted environmental practice among scientists for the bioremediation of polluted soils. In this manuscript we study under laboratory conditions the bioremediation capacity of a new biostimulant obtained from slaughterhouse sludge in a soil polluted by the oxyfluorfen at a rate of 4 l ha−1 (manufacturer’s rate recommended) over a 90-day period. We determined its effects on dehydrogenase, urease, β-glucosidase and phosphatase activities, the soil microbial community structure and the evolution of the herbicide in soil. Possibly due to the high content of low molecular weight proteins in the biostimulant, the enzymatic activities were stimulated mainly at the beginning of the experiment. Soil biological parameters were inhibited in oxyfluorfen-polluted soil. At the end of the experiment and compared with the control soil, dehydrogenase, urease, β-glucosidase, and phosphatase activities significantly decreased by 47.8%, 50.5%, 36.4%, and 45.5% in the oxyfluorfen-polluted soil. At 5 days into the experiment, the use of the biostimulant in oxyfluorfen-polluted soils decreased soil enzymatic activities and microbial community inhibition. At the end of the incubation period the oxyfluorfen concentration had decreased by 60% in the polluted soil and amended with biostimulants. These results suggested that the use of this biostimulant with higher amounts of low molecular weight proteins and peptides had a positive effect on the remediating oxyfluorfen-polluted soils. Therefore, this study provides the use of a new biostimulant obtained from slaughterhouse sludge by enzymatic hydrolysis processes used in the bioremediation of a soil polluted by the oxyfluorfen herbicide

Nueva estrategia didáctica para fomentar la participación del alumnado en el proceso de aprendizaje en el ámbito de la tecnología farmacéutica (continuación)

Depto. de Farmacia Galénica y Tecnología AlimentariaFac. de FarmaciaFALSEsubmitte

¿Cómo debemos actuar ante una crisis de asma?

págs.: 106-126Capítulo incluido en el libro: Optimizando el abordaje del asma bronquial. Manuel Alcántara Villar (coordinador). Sevilla: Universidad Internacional de Andalucía, 2023. ISBN: 978-84-7993-396-8. Enlace: http://hdl.handle.net/10334/737

Minería versus conservación de servicios ecosistémicos: el caso de Sierra La Laguna

Se ofrece una valoración económica de la pérdida de servicios ecosistémicos asociada a la operación de un proyecto minero a tajo abierto en la Reserva de la Biósfera Sierra La Laguna, que dejaría un inmenso beneficio económico con-centrado en pocos agentes fuera del país, a cambio de costos ambientales sustanciales en México durante varias generaciones, evidencia de que en las estimaciones de la minería es indispensable considerar los costos ambientales. La valoración de servicios ecosistémicos debe soportar la toma de decisiones, que es muy importante para instalar políticamente el debate de los pasivos ambientales que genera la actividad

Creación de un nuevo recurso educativo virtual para estudiantes de grado en Farmacia

Depto. de Farmacia Galénica y Tecnología AlimentariaFac. de FarmaciaFALSEsubmitte

Deformación miocárdica en el diagnóstico precoz de enfermedad subclínica en familiares de pacientes con miocardiopatía genéticas.

Familial screening for genetic cardiomyopathies in asymptomatic relatives of index cases, as well as early detection of disease expression in asymptomatic relatives carrying the mutation, can be a clinical challenge. In this scenario, myocardial deformation analysis by speckle tracking may reveal early signs of underlying subclinical disease in relatives of patients with dilated, arrhythmogenic or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We present the clinical case of an asymptomatic young woman, referred for family screening for heart disease, with normal ECG and conventional echocardiogram, where the study of myocardial deformation allowed an early diagnosis of the underlying heart disease.El cribado familiar de cardiomiopatías genéticas en familiares asintomáticos de casos índices, así como a detección temprana de expresión de enfermedad en familiares asintomáticos portadores de la mutación, puede ser un desafío clínico. En este escenario, el analisis de deformación miocárdica mediante speckle tracking puede revelar signos precoces de enfermedad subclínica subyacente en familiares de pacientes con miocardiopatía dilatada, arritmogénica o hipertrófica. Presentamos el caso clínico de una mujer joven asintomática, remitida por cribado familiar de cardiopatía, con ECG y ecocardiograma convencional normal, donde el estudio de la deformación miocárdica permitió llegar al diagnóstico temprano de una cardiopatía subyacente

Effects of weight loss after bariatric surgery on pulmonary function tests and aobtructive sleep apnea in morbidly obese women

Introducción: la obesidad afecta a la función respiratoria e incrementa el riesgo de síndrome de apneas-hipopneas del sueño (SAHS). Objetivo: evaluar el efecto de la cirugía bariátrica, en mujeres con obesidad mórbida, sobre la función respiratoria y sobre el índice de apneas-hipopneas (IAH) tras dos años de seguimiento. Métodos: se incluyeron 15 mujeres (índice de masa corporal [IMC] medio 50,52 ± 12,71 kg.m-2, edad media 40,13 ± 10,06 años). Los enfermos fueron analizados en dos fases: previo a la cirugía bariátrica y tras dos años de la misma. En cada visita se valoraron las medidas antropométricas y se realizaron pruebas de función respiratoria consistentes en espirometría, pletismografía, medida de la presión inspiratoria máxima y del índice de tensión-tiempo de los músculos inspiratorios, así como análisis de gases arteriales. Por último, también se efectuó una poligrafía cardiorrespiratoria durante el sueño. Resultados: tras la cirugía bariátrica el IMC disminuyó en 44,07 kg.m-2 (IC 95% 38,32 – 49,81). De igual forma, se observaron incrementos significativos en el volumen espiratorio forzado al primer segundo (FEV1) (p < 0,01), la capacidad vital forzada (FVC) (p < 0,01), el volumen de reserva espiratorio (ERV) (p = 0,040), la capacidad funcional residual (FRC) (p = 0,009) y la resistencia de las vías aéreas (Raw) (p = 0,018). Por otra parte, el IAH (p = 0,001) y el índice de desaturación de oxígeno (p = 0,001) disminuyeron tras la cirugía. Se observó una correlación significativa entre el grado de pérdida de peso y el incremento del ERV (0,774, p = 0,024). Conclusiones: tras dos años desde la cirugía bariátrica se siguen observando mejorías significativas en la función respiratoria y en la gravedad del SAHS. La mejoría del ERV estaría en relación directa con los niveles de peso perdidoIntroduction: obesity impacts on respiratory function and also it acts as a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Aims: to study the effects of bariatric surgery on pulmonary function tests and on OSA in morbidly obese women over 4 years. Methods: fifteen morbidly obese women (mean body mass index [BMI] 50.52 ± 12.71 kg.m-2, mean age 40.13 ± 10.06 years) underwent pulmonary function tests (PFT) in two opportunities (before and after weight loss surgery). PFT included spirometry, body plethysmography and measure of maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (PImax) and of tension-time index for inspiratory muscles. Also, in both opportunities, resting arterial blood gas tensions were evaluated and a full night sleep register was performed. Results: BMI significantly decreased after bariatric surgery (-44.07 kg.m-2 [CI 95% -38.32 – -49.81]). Also, there was a significantly increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (p < 0.01), forced vital capacity (FVC) (p < 0.01), expiratory reserve volume (ERV) (p = 0.040), functional residual capacity (FRC) (p = 0.009) and a decline in airways resistance (Raw) (p = 0.018). Concerning sleep registers, apnea hypopnea index (p = 0.001) and desaturation index (p = 0.001) were also reduced after weight loss. Improve in ERV had a significant correlation with weight loss (r = 0.774, p = 0.024). Conclussions: pulmonary function tests and apnea hypopnea index improve after bariatric surgery in mor- bidly obese women. Improvement of ERV is well correlated with weight los

Efficacy of short-course colchicine treatment in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia and hyperinflammation: a randomized clinical trial

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si lo hubiere, y los autores pertenecientes a la UAMSome patients with COVID-19 pneumonia develop an associated cytokine storm syndrome that aggravates the pulmonary disease. These patients may benefit of anti-inflammatory treatment. The role of colchicine in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and established hyperinflammation remains unexplored. In a prospective, randomized controlled, observer-blinded endpoint, investigator-initiated trial, 240 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and established hyperinflammation were randomly allocated to receive oral colchicine or not. The primary efficacy outcome measure was a composite of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (CPAP or BiPAP), admission to the intensive care unit, invasive mechanical ventilation requirement or death. The composite primary outcome occurred in 19.3% of the total study population. The composite primary outcome was similar in the two arms (17% in colchicine group vs. 20.8% in the control group; p = 0.533) and the same applied to each of its individual components. Most patients received steroids (98%) and heparin (99%), with similar doses in both groups. In this trial, including adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and associated hyperinflammation, no clinical benefit was observed with short-course colchicine treatment beyond standard care regarding the combined outcome measurement of CPAP/BiPAP use, ICU admission, invasive mechanical ventilation or deat

Users’ perception of violence and conflicts with professionals in primary care centers before and during covid-19. a qualitative study

Background: Workplace violence is a social problem of special interest in both intervention and research. Among the sectors that most perceive this type of violence, health care professionals stand out. The most common type of violence for this professional group is the one perpetrated by the users or patients themselves. It has been reported that one out of every four acts of violence in the workplace occurs in the healthcare setting. Within the health sector, the Mental Health, Emergency and Primary Care services have been widely reported as being among the most vulnerable, with Primary Care being the least addressed of the three. Although the available literature is extensive, there are hardly any studies that explore from a qualitative perspective what are the sources of conflict in this sector from the perspective of the users, the most common being to work with professionals. Objective: The aim of this study is to examine those aspects derived from the organization, the professionals or the users of Primary Care that, from the users’ point of view, cause violent situations and how they think these could be avoided. Method: The sample consisted of 80 users of the Primary Care services of the Health Service of Murcia. For data collection, a qualitative study was conducted through 10 focus groups and a subsequent thematic analysis of the data. Results: The results have allowed us to identify that, from an organizational point of view, the uncertainty in waiting times, the need to adapt the telematic or telephone appointment to the different types of users, or the management of emergencies in Primary Care are the aspects that cause most conflicts between users and professionals. In this sense, suggested improvements are aimed at providing information in the mobile application updated on the opening hours or maintaining the telephone appointment for those who need or request it, among many others. As for the professionals, users point out that the medical staff is perceived as distant and sometimes does not provide