Genetic susceptibility in the development of colorectal adenomas according to family history of colorectal cancer

Our study aimed to evaluate the relevance of genetic susceptibility in the development of colorectal adenomas (CRA) and its relationship with the presence of family history of colorectal cancer (CRC). Genomic DNA from 750 cases (first degree relatives of patients with CRC) and 750 controls (subjects with no family history of CRC) was genotyped for 99 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously associated with CRC/CRA risk by GWAS and candidate gene studies by using the MassArray™ (Sequenom) platform. Cases and controls were matched by gender, age and histological lesion. Eight hundred and fifty-eight patients showed no neoplastic lesions, whereas 288 patients showed low-risk adenomas, and 354 patients presented high-risk adenomas. Two SNPs (rs10505477, rs6983267) in the CASC8 gene were associated with a reduced risk of CRA in controls (log-additive models, OR: 0.67, 95%CI:0.54–0.83, and OR:0.66, 95%CI:0.54–0.84, respectively). Stratified analysis by histological lesion revealed the association of rs10505477 and rs6983267 variants with reduced risk of low- and high-risk adenomas in controls, being this effect stronger in low-risk adenomas (log-additive models, OR:0.63, 95%CI:0.47–0.84 and OR:0.64, 95%CI:0.47–0.86, respectively). Moreover, 2 SNPs (rs10795668, rs11255841) in the noncoding LINC00709 gene were significantly associated with a reduced risk of low-risk adenomas in cases (recessive models, OR:0.22, 95%CI:0.06–0.72, and OR:0.08, 95%CI:0.03–0.61) and controls (dominant models, OR:0.50, 95%CI:0.34–0.75, and OR:0.52, 95%CI:0.35–0.78, respectively). In conclusion, some variants associated with CRC risk (rs10505477, rs6983267, rs10795668 and rs11255841) are also involved in the susceptibility to CRA and specific subtypes. These associations are influenced by the presence of family history of CRC

Fijación de materiales biológicos mediante suturas y adhesivos biológicos

Las suturas son los elementos usados para fijar implantes o velos valvulares de las bioprótesis cardiacas. Tienen gran resistencia, su escasa elasticidad genera tensiones internas en los elementos que fijan. Se han comenzado a utilizar con fines médicos en la cirugía adherentes biológicos como elementos de fijación aunque no hay experiencia en bioprótesis. El objetivo de este trabajo era conocer si las muestras suturadas y pegadas eran capaces de proporcionar resistencia y elasticidad suficiente como para aportar un beneficio a la sutura, en la fijación de implantes o en la construcción de bioprótesis cardiacas. Para ello, hemos diseñado un ensayo de resistencia a tracción de 60 muestras de pericardio de ternera, material que se utiliza para fabricar velos valvulares de bioprótesis, comparando el comportamiento mecánico de 24 muestras suturadas con sutura continua borde a borde, prolene 5/0, a 45º y 90º del eje principal de la carga y otras 24 muestras similares, en las que el ojal del hilo de sutura (o parte del tejido que atraviesa la aguja de sutura) había sido reforzado con un adhesivo de fibrina. Como grupo de control se emplearon doce muestras sin sutura ni adhesivo. Los resultados obtenidos confirman la pérdida de resistencia al esfuerzo de tracción de las muestras suturadas, borde a borde, independientemente de la dirección de la sutura en relación con el eje principal de la carga. Esta forma de sutura no debe ser utilizada. La pérdida de resistencia se manifiesta tras pequeñas deformaciones de las muestras de pericardio. Para un 15% de deformación el estrés medio necesario para el grupo de control fue de 3.15 MPa frente a 0.92 MPa y 1.98 MPa, valores extremos de las series suturadas (p<0.01). Por otra parte, el uso de adherentes de fibrina no mejoró ni la resistencia ni la elasticidad de las muestras, aunque homogenizó el comportamiento mecánico de aquellas muestras suturadas que reforzaron con adherente de fibrina los ojales de paso de los hilos de sutura.Peer Reviewe

Infraestructuras de datos espaciales: desarrollo de habilidades espaciales en el entorno del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior

[EN] In this work the results from a pilot study focused on university students are shown analyzing interaction between Geographic Information Technologies and development of spatial abilities. About the geoportal of Spain¿s Spatial Data Infrastructure, several exercises are completed for studying its influence over spatial skills where DAT-SR, MRT and Perspective Taking/Spatial Orientation tests are used.[ES] En este trabajo se muestran los resultados de un estudio piloto destinado a estudiantes universitarios en el que se analiza la interacción de las Tecnologías de Información Geográ- fica con el desarrollo de las habilidades espaciales. Usando el Geoportal de la Infraestructura de Datos Espaciales de España se realizan una serie de ejercicios al objeto de estudiar su influencia sobre las capacidades espaciales, para lo cual se emplean los test DAT-SR, MRT y Perspective Taking/Spatial Orientation Test.Carbonell Carrera, C.; Mejías, M.; Saorín Pérez, JL.; Contero González, MR. (2012). Infraestructuras de datos espaciales: desarrollo de habilidades espaciales en el entorno del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior. Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles. (58):157-175. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/91854S1571755

Detection of blaCTX-M-15 in an integrative and conjugative element in four extensively drug-resistant Haemophilus parainfluenzae strains causing urethritis

Haemophilus parainfluenzae is a commensal organism with rising numbers of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. This pathogen is of increasing clinical relevance in urogenital infection. The aim of this work was to identify and characterise the molecular mechanisms of resistance associated with four cephalosporin-resistant H. parainfluenzae strains collected from patients with urethritis. Antimicrobial resistance was determined by microdilution following European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing cri-teria. Strains were then analysed by whole-genome sequencing to determine clonal relationship and the molecular basis of antimicrobial resistance. Finally, a phylogenetic analysis was performed on all urogen-ital MDR strains of H. parainfluenzae previously isolated in our hospital. All strains were resistant to ,B- lactams, macrolides, tetracycline, fluoroquinolones, chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole, and aminoglycosides. The resistance profile was compatible with the presence of an extended-spectrum ,B-lactamase (ESBL). Whole-genome sequencing detected blaCTX-M-15 that conferred high minimum inhibitory concentrations to cephalosporins in two novel integrative and conjugative elements (ICEHpaHUB6 and ICEHpaHUB7) that also harboured a blaTEM-1 ,B-lactamase. This study shows a novel bla CTX-M-15 ESBL carried in an integrative conjugative element in four extensively drug-resistant H. parainfluenzae strains. This resistance determi-nant could be transmitted to other sexually transmitted pathogens and this is a cause for concern. (c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

MBOAT7 rs641738 Variant Is Not Associated with an Increased Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Latin American Cohort

Background: The rs641738 C &gt; T single-nucleotide polymorphism of MBOAT7 has been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Latin Americans have high rates of HCC and NAFLD, but no assessment between MBOAT7 and HCC has been performed in this population. Aims: We provide the first assessment of the impact of MBOAT7 on HCC risk in Latin Americans. Methods: Patients were prospectively recruited into the ESCALON network, designed to collect samples from Latin American patients with HCC in 6 South American countries (Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Colombia). A European cohort and the general Hispanic population of gnomAD database were included for comparison. Associations between HCC and MBOAT7 were evaluated using logistic regression. Results:In total, 310 cases of HCC and 493 cases of cirrhosis without HCC were assessed. The MBOAT7 TT genotype was not predictive of HCC in Latin Americans (TT vs CC OR adjusted = 1.15, 95% CI 0.66–2.01, p = 0.610) or Europeans (TT vs CC OR adjusted = 1.20, 95% CI 0.59–2.43, p = 0.621). No significant association was noted on subgroup analysis for NAFLD, viral hepatitis, or alcohol-related liver disease. The TT genotype was increased in the NAFLD-cirrhosis cohort of Latin Americans compared to a non-cirrhotic NAFLD cohort (TT vs CC + CT OR = 2.75, 95% CI 1.10–6.87, p = 0.031). Conclusion: The rs631738 C &gt; T allele of MBOAT7 was not associated with increased risk of HCC in Latin Americans or Europeans. An increase in the risk of cirrhosis was noted with the TT genotype in Latin Americans with NAFLD. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]</p

The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer, MEDA: a suite of environmental sensors for the Mars 2020 mission

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Space science reviews. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11214-021-00816-9NASA’s Mars 2020 (M2020) rover mission includes a suite of sensors to monitor current environmental conditions near the surface of Mars and to constrain bulk aerosol properties from changes in atmospheric radiation at the surface. The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) consists of a set of meteorological sensors including wind sensor, a barometer, a relative humidity sensor, a set of 5 thermocouples to measure atmospheric temperature at ~1.5 m and ~0.5 m above the surface, a set of thermopiles to characterize the thermal IR brightness temperatures of the surface and the lower atmosphere. MEDA adds a radiation and dust sensor to monitor the optical atmospheric properties that can be used to infer bulk aerosol physical properties such as particle size distribution, non-sphericity, and concentration. The MEDA package and its scientific purpose are described in this document as well as how it responded to the calibration tests and how it helps prepare for the human exploration of Mars. A comparison is also presented to previous environmental monitoring payloads landed on Mars on the Viking, Pathfinder, Phoenix, MSL, and InSight spacecraft.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Report of Working Group on Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE).

As a consequence of the impact of the COVID pandemic on international travel which prevented the traditional meeting from taking place, the Working Group on Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE) met online via WebEx hosted by ICES. Prior to the 2020 meeting, the generic ToRs for species and regional working groups were re-prioritised by ACOM to allow the WG to focus primarily on those ToRs most applicable to the provision of advice. WGWIDE reports on the status and considerations for management of Northeast Atlantic mackerel, blue whiting, Western and North Sea horse mackerel, Northeast Atlantic boarfish, Norwegian springspawning herring, striped red mullet (Subareas 6, 8 and Divisions 7.a-c, e-k and 9.a), and red gurnard (Subareas 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) stocks. Northeast Atlantic (NEA) Mackerel. This stock is highly migratory and widely distributed throughout the Northeast Atlantic with significant fisheries is most ICES subareas. A diverse range of fleets from smaller artisanal, handline vessels to large (100m+) factory freezer vessels and modern RSW trawlers and purse seiners take part in what is one of the most valuable European fisheries. The assessment conducted in 2020 is an update assessment, based on the configuration agreed during the most recent inter-benchmark exercise in 2019 and incorporates the most recent data available from sampling of the commercial catch in 2019, the final 2019 egg survey SSB estimate, an updated recruitment index and tagging time series along with 2020 survey data from the IESSNS swept area survey. Advice is given based on stock reference points which were updated during a management strategy evaluation carried out in 2020. Following a strong increase from 2007 to 2014, SSB has been declining although it remains well above MSY Btrigger. Fishing mortality has been below FMSY since 2016. There have been a number of large year classes since 2001 with above average recruitment over much of the most recent decade. Blue Whiting. This pelagic gadoid is widely distributed in the eastern part of the North Atlantic. The 2020 update assessment followed the protocol from the most recent inter-benchmark in 2016 and used preliminary catch data from 2020. Due to the cancellation of the 2020 acoustic survey, this data was not available. The effect on the assessment was minimal and limited to increases in uncertainty of the terminal year estimates. The SSB continues to decrease from the most recent maximum in 2017 mainly due to below average recruitment since 2017, although it remains above MSY Btrigger. Fishing mortality has been above FMSY since 2014. Norwegian Spring Spawning Herring. This is one of the largest herring stocks in the world. It is highly migratory, spawning along the Norwegian coast and feeding throughout much of the Norwegian Sea. The 2020 assessment is based on an implementation of the XSAM assessment model introduced at the benchmark in 2016. This years’ assessment indicates that the stock is continuing to decline from the peak in 2008 of 7Mt to just above MSY Btrigger due to successive years of average or below average recruitment. Catch advice for 2021 is given on the basis of the agreed management plan and represents a substantial increase over the 2020 advice due to an upward revision in the estimate of the 2016 year-class which is considered to be the most significant year-class since 2004

Search for single top quarks in the tau+jets channel using 4.8 fb−1^{-1} of ppˉp\bar{p} collision data

We present the first direct search for single top quark production using tau leptons. The search is based on 4.8 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity collected in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=1.96 TeV with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We select events with a final state including an isolated tau lepton, missing transverse energy, two or three jets, one or two of them $b$ tagged. We use a multivariate technique to discriminate signal from background. The number of events observed in data in this final state is consistent with the signal plus background expectation. We set in the tau+jets channel an upper limit on the single top quark cross section of \TauLimObs pb at the 95% C.L. This measurement allows a gain of 4% in expected sensitivity for the observation of single top production when combining it with electron+jets and muon+jets channels already published by the D0 collaboration with 2.3 fb$^{-1}$ of data. We measure a combined cross section of \SuperCombineXSall pb, which is the most precise measurement to date.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

b-Jet Identification in the D0 Experiment

Algorithms distinguishing jets originating from b quarks from other jet flavors are important tools in the physics program of the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron p-pbar collider. This article describes the methods that have been used to identify b-quark jets, exploiting in particular the long lifetimes of b-flavored hadrons, and the calibration of the performance of these algorithms based on collider data.Comment: submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research