Efecto de Beauveria bassiana (bals.) Villemin sobre parámetros inmunológicos de la cucaracha Periplaneta americana L.

A nivel mundial la cucaracha Periplaneta americana L. es un insecto importante por ser vector de agentes causales de infecciones y producir compuestos alergénicos a humanos. Para su control se han reportado cepas nativas del hongo entomopatógeno Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Villemin; sin embargo, se desconocen los mecanismos de respuesta inmune. En el presente estudio se determinaron los mecanismos de defensa en respuesta inmune celular (conteo de hemocitos) y humoral (actividad fenoloxidasa y expresión de lisozimas), en cucarachas en estadio adulto de P. americana expuestos a la cepa PTG4 de B. bassiana con un concentración letal media (CL50) de 1x108 conidios/ml. La expresión de lisozimas se llevó a cabo mediante la técnica de qPCR. Los resultados mostraron que el sistema inmunológico de tipo celular y humoral se activa significativamente ante la infección de la cepa PTG4 y la expresión del gen de lisozima tipo I se expresa significativamente más en el intestino de la cucaracha hembra que en macho ante la presencia de B. bassiana. Estos resultados permiten entender mejor los mecanismos relacionados a la resistencia de esta plaga ante agentes entomopatógenos fúngicos y su persistencia en el ambiente. ABSTRACT World, the cockroach Periplaneta americana L. is an important insect because it is a vector of causative agents infections and produces an allergenic compounds to humans. For its control, native strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Villemin have been reported; however, the mechanisms immune response are unknown. In the present study, the defense mechanisms in cellular immune response (hemocyte count) and humoral (phenoloxidase activity and lysozyme expression), in adult stage cockroaches of P. american exposed to the PTG4 strain of B. bassiana were determined with a mean lethal concentration (LC50), of 1x108 conidia/ml. Expression of lysozymes was performed by qPCR technique. Results showed that the cellular and humoral immune system is significantly activated against the infection of the PTG4 strain and the expression of lysozyme type I gene is significantly expressed more in female cockroach intestine that in the male in the presence of B. bassiana. These results contributed to a better understanding of the mechanisms related to the resistance of this pest against fungal entomopathogenic agents and its persistence in the environment

La adherencia terapéutica y el uso de las tics en población adolescente con enfermedad crónica

Trabajo fin de grado en EnfermeríaUn número cada vez adolescentes presentan una enfermedad crónica. Convivir con este tipo de patologías es una tarea compleja que puede verse complicada por características no sólo de la propia enfermedad sino de la etapa vital. Sin embargo los estudios e intervenciones desarrollados para mejorar el manejo de este tipo de enfermedades son escasos en nuestro entorno. Una adecuada adherencia al régimen terapéutico es clave para la prevención de complicaciones y mejora de la calidad de vida, sin embargo el conocimiento existente en torno a cómo gestionan los adolescentes su salud es limitado. En los últimos años se han desarrollado estrategias en salud utilizando las nuevas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación para la prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento de la enfermedad. El objetivo de este estudio es explorar las percepciones de los adolescentes con una enfermedad crónica en relación a su régimen terapéutico y describir el uso que hacen éstos de las TICs en el manejo de su enfermedad. Para ello se realizará un estudio con metodología cualitativa con base en el Interaccionismo Simbólico, desde una perspectiva constructivista. Se captará a adolescentes de entre 15 y 19 años que tengan una enfermedad crónica, en las consultas de atención especializada de tres hospitales de Madrid así como centros de salud y se organizarán en grupos de discusión. Una vez recogidos los datos estos serán codificados y analizados siguiendo los criterios éticos y de calidad.An increasing number of adolescents present a chronic illness. Living with this type of pathology is a complex task that can be complicated by characteristics not only of the disease itself but of the vital stage. However, the studies and interventions developed to improve the management of this type of diseases are scarce in our environment. Adequate adherence to the therapeutic regimen is key for the prevention of complications and improvement of the quality of life, however the existing knowledge about how adolescents manage their health is limited. In recent years, health strategies have been developed using new information and communication technologies for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions of adolescents with a chronic disease in relation to their therapeutic regimen and to describe their use of ICTs in the management of their disease. For this, a study with qualitative methodology based on Symbolic Interaccionism will be carried out, from a constructivist perspective. Adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 who have a chronic illness will be reached in specialized care consultations of three hospitals in Madrid as well as health centers and will be organized into discussion groups. Once collected the data will be coded and analyzed according to ethical and quality criteria

Breaking bad news in cancer : an assessment of Maltese patients’ preferences

Purpose: It is unclear whether Maltese cancer patients wish to know their diagnosis or to what extent they want to be informed. The aim was to assess patients’ preferences for receiving a cancer diagnosis and being involved in the decision-making process, and then compare these with results from similar international studies. Methods: Two hundred fifty-two Maltese adult cancer patients were invited to complete two standardised tools: the Measure of Patients’ Perspective (MPP), assessing patients’ preferences for receiving news about their cancer, and the Control Preferences Scale (CPS), examining involvement in decision-making. Results: Maltese patients rated the ‘content’ subscale (information given; mean 4.17, SD 0.59) as significantly more important (p<0.001) than ‘support’ (offering comfort/support; mean 3.73, SD 0.68) and ‘facilitation’ (how information is given; mean 3.86, SD 0.68). Patients with higher levels of education had significantly higher scores for ‘content’ (p=0.018) and ‘facilitation’ (p<0.001) on the MPP, while lower education levels preferred a passive role (p=0.01) on the CPS. Although there is a trend towards a collaborative and even an active role in treatment decisions, patients still exhibit a paternalistic attitude towards their physician. Age, gender and medical variables had no significant influence on response. Conclusions: Maltese cancer patients want to be informed of their cancer diagnosis, its treatment and prognosis, similar to other international studies. However, 60% of Maltese patients prefer a more paternalistic approach towards their physician when compared to other studies.peer-reviewe

Periodic venting of MABR lumen allows high removal rates and high gas-transfer efficiencies

The membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) is a novel treatment technology that employs gas-supplying membranes to deliver oxygen directly to a biofilm growing on the membrane surface. When operated with closed-end membranes, the MABR provides 100-percent oxygen transfer efficiencies (OTE), resulting in significant energy savings. However, closed-end MABRs are more sensitive to back-diffusion of inert gases, such as nitrogen. Back-diffusion reduces the average oxygen transfer rates (OTR), consequently decreasing the average contaminant removal fluxes (J). We hypothesized that venting the membrane lumen periodically would increase the OTR and J. Using an experimental flow cell and mathematical modeling, we showed that back-diffusion gas profiles developed over relatively long timescales. Thus, very short ventings could re-establish uniform gas profiles for relatively long time periods. Using modeling, we systematically explored the effect of the venting interval (time between ventings). At moderate venting intervals, opening the membrane for 20 s every 30 min, the venting significantly increased the average OTR and J without substantially impacting the OTEs. When the interval was short enough, in this case shorter than 20 min, the OTR was actually higher than for continuous open-end operation. Our results show that periodic venting is a promising strategy to combine the advantages of open-end and closed end operation, maximizing both the OTR and OTE.Primary funding for this work was from Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) project U2R14. Additional funding was provided by the Basque Government, partially financing Patricia Pérez, and the Spanish Ministry of Economics and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), project “Innovative Integrated Biological Processes for Nutrients Removal (PBi2)” (CTM2012-36227)

Stabilized micelles as delivery vehicles for paclitaxel

Paclitaxel is an antineoplastic drug used against a variety of tumors, but its low aqueous solubility and active removal caused by P-glycoprotein in the intestinal cells hinder its oral administration. In our study, new type of stabilized Pluronic micelles were developed and evaluated as carriers for paclitaxel delivery via oral or intravenous route. The pre-stabilized micelles were loaded with paclitaxel by simple solvent/evaporation technique achieving high encapsulation efficiency of approximately 70%. Gastrointestinal transit of the developed micelles was evaluated by oral administration of rhodamine-labeled micelles in rats. Our results showed prolonged gastrointestinal residence of the marker encapsulated into micelles, compared to a solution containing free marker. Further, the oral administration of micelles in mice showed high area under curve of micellar paclitaxel (similar to the area of i.v. Taxol®), longer mean residence time (9-times longer than i.v. Taxol®) and high distribution volume (2-fold higher than i.v. Taxol®) indicating an efficient oral absorption of paclitaxel delivered by micelles. Intravenous administration of micelles also showed a significant improvement of pharmacokinetic parameters of micellar paclitaxel vs. Taxol®, in particular higher area under curve (1.2-fold), 5-times longer mean residence time and lower clearance, indicating longer systemic circulation of the micelles

Hf/porphyrin-based metal-organic framework PCN-224 for CO2 cycloaddition with epoxides

Herein, we describe for the first time the synthesis of the highly porous Hf-tetracarboxylate porphyrinbased metal-organic framework (MOF) (Hf)PCN-224(M) (M ¼ H2, Co2þ). (Hf)PCN-224(H2) was easily and efficiently prepared following a simple microwave-assisted procedure with good yields (56e67%; spacetime yields: 1100e1270 kg m3 $day1 ), high crystallinity and phase purity by using trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and benzoic acid as modulators in less than 30 min. By simply introducing a preliminary step (10 min), 5,10,15,20-(tetra-4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin linker (TCPP) was quantitatively metalated with Co2þ without additional purification and/or time consuming protection/deprotection steps to further obtain (Hf)PCN-224(Co). (Hf)PCN-224(Co) was then tested as catalyst in CO2 cycloaddition reaction with different epoxides to yield cyclic carbonates, showing the best catalytic performance described to date compared to other PCNs, under mild conditions (1 bar CO2, room temperature, 18 e24 h). Twelve epoxides were tested, obtaining from moderate to excellent conversions (35e96%). Moreover, this reaction was gram scaled-up (x50) without significant loss of yield to cyclic carbonates. (Hf)PCN-224(Co) maintained its integrity and crystallinity even after 8 consecutive runs, and poisoning was efficiently reverted by a simple thermal treatment (175 C, 6 h), fully recovering the initial catalytic activityS.C. acknowledges the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA-COFUND) grant agreement No 754382 (GOT Energy Talent). S.C. and P.H. acknowledge "Comunidad de Madrid" and European Regional Development Fund-FEDER 2014-2020-OE REACT-UE 1 for their financial support to VIRMOF-CM project associated to R&D projects in response to COVID-19. The authors acknowledge H2020-MSCA-ITN-2019 HeatNMof (ref. 860942), the M-ERA-NET C-MOF-cell (grant PCI2020-111998 funded by MCIN/AEI /10.13039/ 501100011033 and European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR) project, and Retos Investigacion MOFSEIDON (grant PID2019- 104228RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) project. This work has been also supported by the Regional Government of Madrid (Project ACES2030-CM, S2018/EMT-4319) and the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos IMPULSO Project (grant MATER M 3000). S.K acknowledges the Flemish Fund for Scientific Research (FWO Vlaanderen) through a PhD research grant (1181122 N

Exploring the Biofilm Formation Capacity in S. pseudintermedius and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Species

Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).[EN] The ability of biofilm formation seems to play an important role in the virulence of staphylococci. However, studies reporting biofilm formation of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from animals are still very scarce. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the biofilm-forming capacity of CoNS and S. pseudintermedius isolated from several animal species and to investigate the effect of conventional antimicrobials on biofilm reduction. A total of 35 S. pseudintermedius and 192 CoNS were included. Biofilm formation was accessed by the microtiter plate assay and the biofilms were stained by crystal violet. Association between biofilm formation and staphylococci species and antimicrobial resistance was also performed. Biofilm susceptibility testing was performed with tetracycline and amikacin at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and 10 × MIC. The metabolic activity of the biofilm cells after antimicrobial treatment was accessed by the XTT assay. All isolates formed biofilm, with S. urealyticus producing the most biofilm biomass and S. pseudintermedius producing the least biomass. There was a positive association between biofilm formation and multidrug resistance as well as resistance to individual antimicrobials. Neither tetracycline nor amikacin were able to eradicate the biofilm, not even at the highest concentration used. This study provides new insights into biofilm formation and the effects of antimicrobials on CoNS species.SIThis work was funded by the R&D Project CAREBIO2: Comparative assessment of antimicrobial resistance in environmental biofilms through proteomics—towards innovative theranostic biomarkers, with reference NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-030101 and PTDC/SAU-INF/30101/2017, financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Northern Regional Operational Program (NORTE 2020) and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). This work was supported by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV, which is financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES (UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020) and by the projects UIDB/CVT/00772/2020 and LA/P/0059/2020 funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). The Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain, grant number RTI2018-098267-R-C33) and the Junta de Castilla y León (Consejería de Educación, Spain, grant number LE018P20). Vanessa Silva is grateful to FCT (Fundacão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) for financial support through the PhD grant SFRH/BD/137947/2018

Coagulación intravascular diseminada como forma de presentación de leucemia aguda promielocítica: evaluación y tratamiento

Presentamos el caso de un varón de 29 años ingresado en nuestro centro por hematuriamacroscópica, coagulopatía y leucotrombopenia. Se estableció el diagnóstico inicial de coagulación intravascular diseminada (CID) aguda. El proceso diagnóstico para definir la causa de la CID confirmó la existencia de una Leucemia Promielocítica Aguda (LPA). La coagulopatía asociada a LPA es compleja, con datos biológicos de CID e hiperfibrinolisis primaria. Esta coagulopatía se asocia con hemorragias y se observa en el momento del diagnóstico, agravándose con la quimioterapia antileucémica. Constituye una emergencia médica, con una mortalidad cercana al 10% si no se maneja de forma adecuada. Actualmente, la LPA se trata con agentes no citotóxicos como el Ácido Transretinoico (ATRA) y el Trióxido de Arsénico (ATO), con una disminución de las tasas de sangrado. Por lo que un diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz de la coagulopatía suponen un aumento de la supervivencia en estos pacientes.We present the case of a 29-year-old man admitted to our center for hematuria with coagulopathy, mild leukopenia and moderate thrombopenia. A diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) secondary to Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) was made. Bleeding episodes due to DIC are one of the main causes of mortality at diagnosis in patients with APL. Currently there are lines of treatment with Arsenic Trioxide (ATO) and trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) that have replaced conventional chemotherapy regimens, with a decrease in bleeding rates. Therefore, an early diagnosis and treatment of DIC entails an increase in survival in these patients

Blue Cheeses: Microbiology and Its Role in the Sensory Characteristics

[EN] Blue cheeses are those whose matrix is veined with a blue, blue-grey, or blue-green colour due to the development of Penicillium roqueforti. There are more than 45 varieties of blue cheese produced worldwide, with some distinct features, although the manufacture process is similar. In addition to P. roqueforti, complex microbial populations interact and succeed throughout the manufacturing and ripening at the cheese’s surface (the rind) and interior (matrix). The microbiota of blue cheeses is made up of a vast array of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. Acidification of the curd relies on the action of lactococci and other lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species. The ripened cheeses’ final quality and shelf-life properties largely depend on the enzymatic systems of the components of the microbiota, particularly on those of LAB, P. roqueforti, and yeast species. Proteolysis is the most complex and important primary biochemical process involved in blue-veined cheeses during ripening, with P. roqueforti being considered the main proteolytic agent. Lipolysis is also strong, originating, among other compounds, ketones, which are the main aroma compounds in blue-veined cheeses. In addition, several bioactive compounds are produced during ripening. The biochemical activities, mainly of microbial origin, are responsible for the sensory characteristics of these very appreciated cheese varieties worldwideSIResearch in this area has been supported by projects from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019-110549RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and Asturias Principality (AYUD/2021/50916; AYUD/2021/57336

Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score applied to CT angiography source images is a strong predictor of futile recanalization in acute ischemic stroke

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00234-016-1652-7Introduction Reliable predictors of poor clinical outcome despite successful revascularization might help select patients with acute ischemic stroke for thrombectomy. We sought to determine whether baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) applied to CT angiography source images (CTA-SI) is useful in predicting futile recanalization. Methods Data are from the FUN-TPA study registry (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02164357) including patients with acute ischemic stroke due to proximal arterial occlusion in anterior circulation, undergoing reperfusion therapies. Baseline non-contrast CT and CTA-SI-ASPECTS, timelapse to image acquisition, occurrence, and timing of recanalization were recorded. Outcome measures were NIHSS at 24 h, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, modified Rankin scale score, and mortality at 90 days. Futile recanalization was defined when successful recanalization was associated with poor functional outcome (death or disability). Results Included were 110 patients, baseline NIHSS 17 (IQR 12; 20), treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT; 45 %), primary mechanical thrombectomy (MT; 16 %), or combined IVT+MT (39 %). Recanalization rate was 71 %, median delay of 287 min (225; 357). Recanalization was futile in 28 % of cases. In an adjusted model, baseline CTA-SI-ASPECTS was inversely related to the odds of futile recanalization (OR 0.5; 95 % CI 0.3–0.7), whereas NCCT-ASPECTS was not (OR 0.8; 95 % CI 0.5–1.2). A score ≤5 in CTA-SIASPECTS was the best cut-off to predict futile recanalization (sensitivity 35 %; specificity 97 %; positive predictive value 86 %; negative predictive value 77 %). Conclusions CTA-SI-ASPECTS strongly predicts futile recanalization and could be a valuable tool for treatment decisions regarding the indication of revascularization therapie