High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I as a reliable prognosis biomarker in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiac disease and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. For risk assessment, guidelines recommend carrying out different tests during follow-up. However, the role of plasma biomarkers such as serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin- I (hs-cTnI) has not yet been well established. To get more data, we analyzed the relationships between this biomarker and clinical and imaging parameters. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study based on the review of data of HCM patients with at least one hs-cTnI measurement in our center and compared the clinical profiles of patients with and without hs-cTnI elevation. In case of several measurements, the highest hs-cTnI value was considered. RESULTS: Out of 98 patients, 52% presented elevated hs-cTnI. Median level of ambulatory measurements was 17 ng/mL. Maximum left-ventricle (LV) hypertrophy was mainly basal-septal or septal, with a mean value of 18 mm. Late gadolinium enhancement was mainly intramyocardial. During follow-up, 37 patients developed at least one cardiovascular complication. 75 patients had at least one ambulatory hs-cTnI measurement, out of which 15 had more than one measurement. Significant differences between measurements occurred in 5 (33%) out of these 15 patients. The presence of elevated ambulatory hs-cTnI levels was significantly associated with a reduced LV ejection fraction (LVEF) (p=0,006) and an increased maximum LV wall thickness (p=0,044). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, elevated ambulatory hs-cTnI was associated with both reduced LVEF and increased maximum LV wall thickness. The availability of baseline hs-cTnI levels may help in stratifying the risk of HCM patients

Influence of boehmite intermediate layer as covalent linker on synthesis of LTA zeolite coatings

The incorporation of nanostructured materials, such as LTA-type zeolite on the silicon wafers, opens a very interesting door to the use of these materials within silicon based microfabrication technologies. This work studies the deposition and intergrowth of defect-free LTA-type zeolite layer onto 3-inch Silicon wafers with a layer of SiO2 subjected to pretreatment. The main disadvantage associated with zeolite layer synthesis are crack the formation of cracks and difficulty of obtaining a uniform layer. By modifying the supports with boehmite, a substantial improvement was observed in terms of layer continuity and crystal intergrowth in comparrison to coatings prepared on cationic polymer, poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride). An LTA- type zeolite layer was synthesized in a range of 350 to 1300 nm via hydrothermal ex-situ method at 363 K for 12 h. Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) was used as a template, and aluminum isopropoxide and colloidal silica were used as Al and Si sources, respectively

Spatial fluctuations in an optical parametric oscillator below threshold with an intracavity photonic crystal

We show how to control spatial quantum correlations in a multimode, degenerate, type-I optical parametric oscillator below threshold by introducing a spatially inhomogeneous medium, such as a photonic crystal, in the plane perpendicular to light propagation. We obtain the analytical expressions for all of the correlations in terms of the relevant parameters of the problem and study the number of photons, entanglement, squeezing, and twin beams. Considering different regimes and configurations, we show that it is possible to tune the instability thresholds as well as the quantumness of correlations by breaking the translational invariance of the system through a photonic-crystal modulation. © 2012 American Physical Society.We acknowledge financial support from the MICINN (Spain) and FEDER (EU) through projects FIS2007-60327 (FISICOS) and FIS2011-23526 (TIQS), from CSIC through project CoQuSys (200450E566) and from the Govern Balear through project AAEE0113/09. MAGM acknowledges sup- port from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (MEC) and the US Fulbright CommissionPeer Reviewe

Learning to manage in knowledge based organizations: the role of portfolios

Paper presented at the 8th European Conference on Knowledge Management, Barcelona, 6-7 Sep. 2008 URL: http://www.academic-conferences.org/eckm/eckm2007/eckm07-home.htmAt the forefront of organizational performance are organizations which recognise that information, knowledge and their intelligent application are the essential factors of success. The know-how to promote these activities must now become a part of the “skills and abilities armoury” acquired by graduates in the domain of “Information Systems” and “Information Management”. This paper will address the use of “individual reflective portfolios” (IRP), either as “learning” or as “learning and assessment” tools in modules of the “Knowledge Management” course taught at two Portuguese Universities - Universidade Nova de Lisboa and Universidade de Coimbra. This learning and assessment approach is aimed primarily at developing students; it enables them to reflect and make a meta-analysis of their learning process. At the same time, it gives students an opportunity to integrate their learning across subjects that are relevant to knowledge-based management. In one of the case studies described, it also provides an opportunity to expose them to a wide literature base, where several approaches to the use of knowledge in organizations are discussed. Results show that, in the initial stages, students do not see this methodology as useful (only time-wasting) but by the end of the course they recognise that it helps them to reflect on their learning processes, deepens their learning and helps keep up-to-date with the course content. This paper introduces best practices for this teaching and learning approach and includes an evaluation of the methodology by a student sample

Diagnostic assessment of the comfort of palliative patients: scoping review protocol

Introduction: The competence to evaluate is essential in any profession in the health area. The concept of comfort is intrinsically linked to palliative care, being a concern shared by any health professional. These, when analyzing, must know what they are looking for and what they should expect to find. Objectives: To map how health professionals assess people's comfort in palliative and end-of-life situations. Methods: will follow the methodology proposed by the Johanna Briggs Institute (JBI) for scoping reviews. Considered studies in Spanish, English and Portuguese, without temporal definition. Databases to search: MEDLINE Complete, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Complete and Mediclatina (EBSCOhost), Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection. For unpublished studies, the RCAAP (open access repository in Portugal) will be used. Two independent reviewers will evaluate the articles and extract the data using a specific tool created. In case of discrepancies, a third reviewer will be requested. Results: It is expected to map the data used by health professionals in assessing the comfort of people in palliative care. Conclusions: This review will make it possible to identify instruments used to collect data and what is the professional competence of the group that has in its practice the assessment of comfort. This can form the basis for a systematic review and/or help identify gaps where it may be important to invest in the future. This protocol was registered on the OSF platform with the DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/UF52X.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

3D structuration of MOF layers for gas sensors enhancement and its application in microreactors

En este trabajo se han sintetizado capas de ZIF-8 sobre soportes de silicio y poliméros por su posterior integration en microdispositivos. La sίntesis de la capa ZIF-8 se produjo a temperatura ambiente mediante la inmersión repetida de las bases en la solución precursora. El método de sίntesis fue compatible con la fabricación de micro membranas autosoportadas no se consiguió. En el estudio del compuesto PBI/ZIF-8 para sίntesis de membranas asimetricas se han obtenido resultados muy prometedores

The genomic environment around the Aromatase gene: evolutionary insights

BACKGROUND: The cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19), catalyses the aromatisation of androgens to estrogens, a key mechanism in vertebrate reproductive physiology. A current evolutionary hypothesis suggests that CYP19 gene arose at the origin of vertebrates, given that it has not been found outside this clade. The human CYP19 gene is located in one of the proposed MHC-paralogon regions (HSA15q). At present it is unclear whether this genomic location is ancestral (which would suggest an invertebrate origin for CYP19) or derived (genomic location with no evolutionary meaning). The distinction between these possibilities should help to clarify the timing of the CYP19 emergence and which taxa should be investigated. RESULTS: Here we determine the "genomic environment" around CYP19 in three vertebrate species Homo sapiens, Tetraodon nigroviridis and Xenopus tropicalis. Paralogy studies and phylogenetic analysis of six gene families suggests that the CYP19 gene region was structured through "en bloc" genomic duplication (as part of the MHC-paralogon formation). Four gene families have specifically duplicated in the vertebrate lineage. Moreover, the mapping location of the different paralogues is consistent with a model of "en bloc" duplication. Furthermore, we also determine that this region has retained the same gene content since the divergence of Actinopterygii and Tetrapods. A single inversion in gene order has taken place, probably in the mammalian lineage. Finally, we describe the first invertebrate CYP19 sequence, from Branchiostoma floridae. CONCLUSION: Contrary to previous suggestions, our data indicates an invertebrate origin for the aromatase gene, given the striking conservation pattern in both gene order and gene content, and the presence of aromatase in amphioxus. We propose that CYP19 duplicated in the vertebrate lineage to yield four paralogues, followed by the subsequent loss of all but one gene in vertebrate evolution. Finally, we suggest that agnathans and lophotrocozoan protostomes should be investigated for the presence of aromatase

Formation of Clay-Rich Layers at The Slip Surface of Slope Instabilities: The Role of Groundwater

Some landslides around the world that have low-angle failure planes show exceptionally poor mechanical properties. In some cases, an extraordinarily pure clay layer has been detected on the rupture surface. In this work, a complex landslide, the so-called Diezma landslide, is investigated in a low-to moderate-relief region of Southeast Spain. In this landslide, movement was concentrated on several surfaces that developed on a centimeter-thick layer of smectite (montmorillonite-beidellite) clay-rich level. Since these clayey levels have a very low permeability, high plasticity, and low friction angle, they control the stability of the entire slide mass. Specifically, the triggering factor of this landslide seems to be linked to the infiltration of water from a karstic aquifer located in the head area. The circulation of water through old failure planes could have promoted the active hydrolysis of marly soils to produce new smectite clay minerals. Here, by using geophysical, mineralogical, and geochemical modelling methods, we reveal that the formation and dissolution of carbonates, sulfates, and clay minerals in the Diezma landslide could explain the elevated concentrations of highly plastic secondary clays in its slip surface. This study may help in the understanding of landslides that show secondary clay layers coinciding to their low-angle failure planes.This study was supported by the research projects PID2019-107138RB-I00 funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and P18-RT-3632 funded by the Junta de Andalucí

Cytogenetic data for Paspalum notatum Flügge accessions

Several species of the genus Paspalum L. are important forages, due their to quality, productivity and tolerance to environmental stresses. Chromosome numbers, meiotic configurations and pollen fertility were evaluated in a collection of 85 accessions of Paspalum notatum Flügge and in seven accessions of Pensacola (P. notatum var saurae). All P. notatum accessions were tetraploid, with 2n = 4x = 40, except one diploid accession, considered as an escape of Pensacola. All Pensacola plants had 2n = 2x = 20. Meiotic configurations at diakinesis and metaphase I varied among tetraploid accessions, from plants with only bivalents to plants with high frequency of quadrivalents. Pollen fertility varied from 82.5 to 95.9% among diploid accessions and from 72.4 to 97.9% among the tetraploids. Due to the apomictic mode of reproduction of tetraploid P. notatum, meiotic irregularities can be maintained by plants without harming their propagation. At the same time, pollen fertility should be high enough to assure endosperm development, since the species is pseudogamous. Wild diploid P. notatum populations, apart from the endemic P. notatum var saurae, are very rare. From a plant breeding point of view, all the examined tetraploid accessions are potentially male-fertile and could be used as males in crosses.Muitas espécies do genus Paspalum L. são importantes forragens, devido à qualidade, produtividade e tolerância para o stress ambiental. Números cromossômicos, configurações meióticas e fertilidade do pólen foram analisados em uma coleção de 85 acessos de Paspalum notatum Flügge e sete acessos de Pensacola (P. notatum var saurae). Todos os acessos de P. notatum eram tetraplóides, com 2n = 4x = 40, com exceção de um diplóide, considerado como escape de Pensacola. Todas as plantas de Pensacola examinadas tinham 2n = 2x = 20. Foi verificada variação entre os acessos tetraplóides quanto às configurações cromossômicas em diacinese e metáfase I, desde plantas com apenas bivalentes até aquelas com alta freqüência de quadrivalentes. A fertilidade do pólen variou de 82,5 a 95,9% entre os acessos diplóides e de 72,4 a 97,9% entre os tetraplóides. Devido ao modo de reprodução apomítico de P. notatum tetraplóide, irregularidades meióticas podem ser mantidas sem prejuízo da propagação. Ao mesmo tempo, a fertilidade do pólen deve ser suficientemente alta para assegurar a formação do endosperma, já que a espécie é pseudogâmica. Diplóides silvestres de P. notatum, além do endêmico P. notatum var saurae são muito raros. Do ponto de vista do melhoramento, todos os tetraplóides são potencialmente macho-férteis e poderiam ser utilizados como genitores masculinos em cruzamentos