OCT angiography: a technique for the assessment of retinal and optic nerve diseases in the pediatric population

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is a novel, rapidly evolving, non-invasive imaging technique that allows images of the retinal vasculature to be obtained in a few seconds. Blood vessels of different retinal vascular plexuses and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) can be examined without the administration of any contrast or dye. Due to these characteristics, OCT-A could be an excellent complementary test to study retinal vascularization in children. Until now, most of the studies with OCT-A have been conducted in adults and only a few have been carried out in children. In this review, we describe the principles and advantages of OCT-A over traditional imaging methods and provide a summary of the OCT-A findings in retinopathy of prematurity and other retinal and optic disc pathologies in children. In view of the promising results from studies, the advantages of a relatively rapid and non-invasive method to assess the retinal vasculature makes OCT-A a tool of which applications in the field of pediatric ophthalmology will be expanded in the near future for patient diagnosis and follow-up in every day clinical practice

Centennial olive trees as a reservoir of genetic diversity

Background and AimsGenetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the oldest trees could be a powerful tool both for germplasm collection and for understanding the earliest origins of clonally propagated fruit crops. The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is a suitable model to study the origin of cultivars due to its long lifespan, resulting in the existence of both centennial and millennial trees across the Mediterranean Basin.MethodsThe genetic identity and diversity as well as the phylogenetic relationships among the oldest wild and cultivated olives of southern Spain were evaluated by analysing simple sequence repeat markers. Samples from both the canopy and the roots of each tree were analysed to distinguish which trees were self-rooted and which were grafted. The ancient olives were also put into chronological order to infer the antiquity of traditional olive cultivars.Key ResultsOnly 9·6 % out of 104 a priori cultivated ancient genotypes matched current olive cultivars. The percentage of unidentified genotypes was higher among the oldest olives, which could be because they belong to ancient unknown cultivars or because of possible intra-cultivar variability. Comparing the observed patterns of genetic variation made it possible to distinguish which trees were grafted onto putative wild olives.ConclusionsThis study of ancient olives has been fruitful both for germplasm collection and for enlarging our knowledge about olive domestication. The findings suggest that grafting pre-existing wild olives with olive cultivars was linked to the beginnings of olive growing. Additionally, the low number of genotypes identified in current cultivars points out that the ancient olives from southern Spain constitute a priceless reservoir of genetic diversity

Instrumental relacionado con el fuego y el banquete

El artículo da a conocer un pequeño lote de fragmentos de espetones de bronce procedentes de dos tumbas de la necrópolis de La Cerrada de los Santos (Aragoncillo) y de otro enterramiento del cementerio de Chera (Prados Redondos), todos ellos en la provincia de Guadalajara y pertenecientes al Celtibérico Antiguo. Estos hallazgos amplían el mapa de su reparto en la Península. El estudio se completa con un morillo de hierro, muy probablemente procedente de la necrópolis de El Atance, también en la provincia de Guadalajara. El trabajo da pie al estudio metalográfico de los ejemplares y a la reflexión sobre su significado en relación con los ritos de fuego y los banquete

Sex-Related Disparities in the Prevalence of Depression among Patients Hospitalized with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Spain, 2011–2020

(1) Background: Recent reports suggest a decrease in the prevalence of depression among people with diabetes and important sex-differences in the association between these conditions, however data from Spain is sparse. We aim to assess trends in the prevalence of depression and in-hospital outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) hospitalized (2011–2020) identifying sex-differences. (2) Methods: Using the Spanish national hospital discharge database we analysed the prevalence of depression globally, by sex, and according to the conditions included in the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). We tested factors associated with the presence of depression and with in-hospital mortality (IHM). Time trends in the prevalence of depression and variables independently associated with IHM were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. (3) Results: From 2011 to 2020, we identified 5,971,917 hospitalizations of patients with T2DM (5.7% involved depression). The prevalence of depression decreased significantly between 2011 and 2020. The adjusted prevalence of depression was 3.32-fold higher in women than in men (OR 3.32; 95%CI 3.3–3.35). The highest prevalence of depression among men and women with T2DM was found among those who also had a diagnosis of obesity, liver disease, and COPD. Older age, higher CCI, pneumonia, and having been hospitalized in 2020 increased the risk of IHM in patients with T2DM and depression. Obesity was a protective factor for IHM in both sexes, with no differences detected for IHM between men and women. Among patients hospitalized with T2DM, concomitant depression was associated with lower IHM than among patients without depression (depression paradox). (4) Conclusions: The prevalence of depression decreased over time in both sexes. The prevalence of depression was over three-fold higher in women. Female sex and depression were not associated with higher IHM. Based on our results we recommend that clinicians screen regularly for depression in patients with T2DM, particularly women, younger patients, and those with multiple comorbidities.Depto. de Salud Pública y Materno - InfantilFac. de MedicinaTRUEUnión EuropeaComunidad de MadridInstituto de Salud Carlos IIIUniversidad Complutense de MadridUniversidad Complutense de Madrid. Grupo de Investigación en Epidemiología de las Enfermedades Crónicas de Alta Prevalencia en España (970970)pu

El desarrollo de las líneas transversales en el área de Lengua Castellana a través de la investigación cooperativa

This article describes, albeit briefly, an experience carried out by a colaborative research group in relation to the design, implementation and evaluation of croos-curricular themas within the main subject of Language, for which the action-research methodoly has been used. Afer a brief explanation of the topic and methodology of the research, the stages and procedures for the recolection and analysis of data are described. Finally, some of the conclusions of this experience about the conceptualization and design of cross-curricular themes are put forward, as well as the opportunities which action-research methodology offers to train teachers for their best profssional development.; En este artículo se describe brevemente la experiencia realizada por un equipo de investigación cooperativa, en torno al proceso de diseño globalizado, desarrollo y evaluación de las líneas transversales en el área de Lengua, siguiendo la metodología de la investigación acción. Después de una rápida justificación de la selección del tema y metodología de investigación utilizados, se contemplan las fases y procedimientos de recogida y análisis de la información empleados. Finalmente se avanzan algunas de las conclusiones extraidas de esta experiencia, en relación a la conceptualización y diseño de las líneas transversales, así como a las posibilidades de la investigación acción como modelo de formación del profesorado para su mejor desarrollo profesional

Discretization of expression quantitative trait loci in association analysis between genotypes and expression data

Expression quantitative trait loci are used as a tool to identify genetic causes of natural variation in gene expression. Only in a few cases the expression of a gene is controlled by a variant on a single genetic marker. There is a plethora of different complexity levels of interaction effects within markers, within genes and between marker and genes. This complexity challenges biostatisticians and bioinformatitians every day and makes findings difficult to appear. As a way to simplify analysis and better control confounders, we tried a new approach for association analysis between genotypes and expression data. We pursued to understand whether discretization of expression data can be useful in genome-transcriptome association analyses. By discretizing the dependent variable, algorithms for learning classifiers from data as well as performing block selection were used to help understanding the relationship between the expression of a gene and genetic markers. We present the results of using this approach to detect new possible causes of expression variation of DRB5, a gene playing an important role within the immune system. Together with expression of gene DRB5 obtained from the classical microarray technology, we have also measured DRB5 expression by using the more recent next-generation sequencing technology. A supplementary website including a link to the software with the method implemented can be found at http: //bios.ugr.es/DRB5

Jornadas-taller "Igualdad y juventud: detección y análisis de la violencia de género en la Universidad"

Memoria ID-0058. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2014-2015

Switching to Glycerol Phenylbutyrate in 48 Patients with Urea Cycle Disorders: Clinical Experience in Spain

Background and objectives: Glycerol phenylbutyrate (GPB) has demonstrated safety and efficacy in patients with urea cycle disorders (UCDs) by means of its clinical trial program, but there are limited data in clinical practice. In order to analyze the efficacy and safety of GPB in clinical practice, here we present a national Spanish experience after direct switching from another nitrogen scavenger to GPB. Methods: This observational, retrospective, multicenter study was performed in 48 UCD patients (age 11.7 ± 8.2 years) switching to GPB in 13 centers from nine Spanish regions. Clinical, biochemical, and nutritional data were collected at three different times: prior to GPB introduction, at first follow-up assessment, and after one year of GPB treatment. Number of related adverse effects and hyperammonemic crisis 12 months before and after GPB introduction were recorded. Results: GPB was administered at a 247.8 ± 102.1 mg/kg/day dose, compared to 262.6 ± 126.1 mg/kg/day of previous scavenger (46/48 Na-phenylbutyrate). At first follow-up (79 ± 59 days), a statistically significant reduction in ammonia (from 40.2 ± 17.3 to 32.6 ± 13.9 μmol/L, p < 0.001) and glutamine levels (from 791.4 ± 289.8 to 648.6 ± 247.41 μmol/L, p < 0.001) was observed. After one year of GPB treatment (411 ± 92 days), we observed an improved metabolic control (maintenance of ammonia and glutamine reduction, with improved branched chain amino acids profile), and a reduction in hyperammonemic crisis rate (from 0.3 ± 0.7 to less than 0.1 ± 0.3 crisis/patients/year, p = 0.02) and related adverse effects (RAE, from 0.5 to less than 0.1 RAEs/patients/year p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study demonstrates the safety of direct switching from other nitrogen scavengers to GPB in clinical practice, which improves efficacy, metabolic control, and RAE compared to previous treatments.This study was funded by AECOM (Spanish Association for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism). Immedica Pharma Spain funded medical writing support and article processing charges

Genomics And Susceptibility Profiles Of Extensively Drug-resistant Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolates From Spain

This study assessed the molecular epidemiology, resistance mechanisms, and susceptibility profiles of a collection of 150 extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates obtained from a 2015 Spanish multicenter study, with a particular focus on resistome analysis in relation to ceftolozane-tazobactam susceptibility. Broth microdilution MICs revealed that nearly all (> 95%) of the isolates were nonsusceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam, ceftazidime, cefepime, aztreonam, imipenem, meropenem, and ciprofloxacin. Most of them were also resistant to tobramycin (77%), whereas nonsusceptibility rates were lower for ceftolozane-tazobactam (31%), amikacin (7%), and colistin (2%). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis-multilocus sequence typing (PFGE-MLST) analysis revealed that nearly all of the isolates belonged to previously described high-risk clones. Sequence type 175 (ST175) was detected in all 9 participating hospitals and accounted for 68% (n = 101) of the XDR isolates, distantly followed by ST244 (n = 16), ST253 (n = 12), ST235 (n = 8), and ST111 (n = 2), which were detected only in 1 to 2 hospitals. Through phenotypic and molecular methods, the presence of horizontally acquired carbapenemases was detected in 21% of the isolates, mostly VIM (17%) and GES enzymes (4%). At least two representative isolates from each clone and hospital (n = 44) were fully sequenced on an illumina MiSeq. Classical mutational mechanisms, such as those leading to the overexpression of the beta-lactamase AmpC or efflux pumps, OprD inactivation, and/or quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDR) mutations, were confirmed in most isolates and correlated well with the resistance phenotypes in the absence of horizontally acquired determinants. Ceftolozane-tazobactam resistance was not detected in carbapenemase-negative isolates, in agreement with sequencing data showing the absence of ampC mutations. The unique set of mutations responsible for the XDR phenotype of ST175 clone documented 7 years earlier were found to be conserved, denoting the long-term persistence of this specific XDR lineage in Spanish hospitals. Finally, other potentially relevant mutations were evidenced, including those in penicillin-binding protein 3 (PBP3), which is involved in beta-lactam (including ceftolozane-tazobactam) resistance, and FusA1, which is linked to aminoglycoside resistance