Cardiovascular disease in times of COVID-19

Existen crecientes informes sobre una drástica caída en consultas y realización de procedimientoscardiovasculares (incluyendo urgencias y emergencias) en regiones afectadas por la pandemia deCOVID-19, con el consecuente incremento marcado de la mortalidad total que no se explica totalmente por las defunciones atribuidas a COVID-19. En Argentina, la enfermedad cardiovascular lidera el ranking de muertes en adultos con 280 muertes por día, y en las últimas décadas hemos reducido su mortalidad entre 20 y 30% mediante diversas intervenciones basadas en la evidencia. En el presente trabajo realizamos análisis predictivos para entender cuáles podrían ser las consecuencias de una peor implementación de dichas intervenciones. Estimamos que un menor control de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular de abril a octubre de 2020 podría causar hasta 10 500 nuevos casos prevenibles de enfermedad cardiovascular. En términos de infarto de miocardio, una caída del 40% al 60% del tratamiento de reperfusión podría incrementar la mortalidad del 3% al 5%. Un incremento marginal de riesgo relativo de 10% a 15% de muerte cardiovascular equivaldría a un exceso de 6000 a 9000 muertes evitables. En conclusión, dada la alta prevalencia y fatalidad de la enfermedad cardiovascular, incluso un pequeño impacto negativo en la eficacia de su cuidado se traducirá en grandes cantidades de afectados en Argentina. Es necesario informar a las autoridades y educar al público para que sigan controlando enfermedades cardiovasculares y sus factores de riesgo, siempre que existan recursos y minimizando el riesgo de contagio y propagación del virus.There are increasing reports of a drastic drop in consultations and cardiovascular procedures (including urgencies and emergencies) in regions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a consequent marked increase in total mortality that is not fully explained by COVID-19. Cardiovascular disease leads the ranking in deaths in adults in Argentina with 280 deaths per day, and in recent decades we have reduced its mortality by 20-30% through various evidence-based interventions. Herein we conducted predictive analyses to understand what could be the consequences of a worse implementation of those interventions. We estimate that less control of cardiovascular risk factors from April to October 2020 could cause up to 10 500 new preventable cases of cardiovascular disease. In terms of myocardial infarction, a drop from 40% to 60% of the reperfusion treatment could increase mortality by 3% to 5%. A marginal 10% to 15% increase in relative risk of cardiovascular death would be equivalent to an excess of 6000 to 9000 preventable deaths. In conclusion, given the high prevalence and fatality of cardiovascular disease, even a small negative impact on the efficacy of its care will translate into large numbers of people affected in Argentina. It is necessary to inform the authorities and educate the public so cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors remain a health priority, as long as resources exist and minimizing the risk of contagion and spread of the virus.Fil: Lamelas, Pablo. Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires; Argentina. McMaster University. Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact; Estados UnidosFil: Botto, Fernando. Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Pedernera, Gustavo. Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Alves de Lima, Alberto Enrique. Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Costabel, Juan Pablo. Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Belardi, Jorge. Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Sexual steroid hormone receptors profiles of ovarian carcinoma in Mexican women

The significance of the presence of androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor alpha (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in ovarian cancer patient survival has been a matter of numerous studies. This study was aimed to describe the expression profile of the three sexual steroid receptors in high-grade serous, endometrioid, mucinous and low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma and its association to the proliferation index in patients with primary ovarian carcinoma diagnosis, before any treatment. Eighty-one samples were obtained from the National Institute of Cancerology in Mexico City and were evaluated for the presence of AR, ER, PR and Ki67 by immunohistochemistry. The four subtypes of ovarian carcinoma displays a specific profile of the eight possible combinations of the steroid receptors with significant differences within the profile and the histological subtypes. High-grade serous carcinoma was characterized by a high frequency of both, triple-negative and AR+ ER− PR+ profiles. Endometrioid carcinoma presented a higher frequency of triple-positive profile. The presence of only AR+ profile was not observed in the endometrioid tumors. The relationship of the receptor profile with the proliferation index in the tumor epithelium shows that the expression of only ER is associated to a reduced proliferation index in endometrioid carcinoma. Steroid hormone receptor expression and co-expression could help characterize ovarian carcinoma

Influence of the oxygen feed distribution on the performance of a catalytic reactor for ATR of methane

In the present contribution, a theoretical study of a multitubular membrane reactor (MR) for the autothermal reforming of methane (ATR) over a Ni/MgOAl2O3 catalyst is presented. By means of a pseudo-homogeneous 1D model, the viability and convenience of the proposed design to produce hydrogen to feed a PEM fuel cell of 10 kWth is analyzed. The influence of the operating conditions on the reactor behavior is studied. The results suggest that the MR is a promising alternative to conventional reactors to carry out ATR of methane at milder conditions and with similar H2 productions. The axial distribution of the O2 fed to the reactor is a powerful tool to influence the axial temperature profiles, the methane conversion and the selectivity. However, the reactor should be operated carefully, to avoid operating conditions where an accumulation phenomenon of oxygen along the axial axis appears.Fil: Rodriguez, Maria Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Ardissone, Daniel Enrique. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Económico Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Pedernera, Marisa Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Borio, Daniel Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Progesterone reduces cell survival in primary cultures of endometrioid ovarian cancer

Abstract Background Ovarian cancer is the most lethal of all gynecologic malignancies. The relationship between sexual steroids receptors and ovarian cancer progression has been largely evaluated. The presence of progesterone receptors has been associated with an increase of a disease-free period and overall survival in patients with ovarian carcinoma. In the present study, primary cultures of ovarian carcinoma obtained from 35 patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer were evaluated for cell survival after treatment with 10− 8 M of 17β-estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Results The results were analyzed considering histological subtypes: low grade serous, high grade serous, endometrioid and mucinous carcinoma; clear cell carcinoma was not included due to failure in obtaining successful cultures of this subtype. A significant reduction of cell survival was observed after progesterone treatment in endometrioid ovarian carcinoma. Changes were not observed in low grade serous, high grade serous and mucinous carcinoma. The effect of progesterone was related to the presence of progesterone receptor (PR), a 43% reduction in the cell number was observed in PR (+) endometrioid ovarian carcinoma. Conclusions This study supports the importance of progesterone and the presence of progesterone receptor in the reduction of ovarian cancer progression in the endometrioid ovarian carcinoma

Reactor designs for ethylene production via ethane oxidative dehydrogenation: Comparison of performance

The implementation of ethane oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) toward ethylene production in two different reactor configurations is studied here by means of a mathematical model of the reactors. A conventional liquid-cooled multitubular reactor and a multitubular membrane reactor are considered for comparison. Both reactor designs use a Ni-Nb-O catalyst washcoated over raschig-rings inside the tubes; molten salts flow in the shell side of the conventional reactor whereas pure oxygen is assumed for the shell of the membrane reactor. Industrial-scale ethylene production is the aim. Results show that the variation of the bed density (different thickness of the catalytic washcoat over the pellets) shows opposite effects on both reactor designs. For the conventional reactor, the increase in bed density leads to more pronounced hot spots as well as to an undesired oxygen depletion inside the tubes. Conversely, for the membrane reactor, higher bed densities prevent oxygen accumulation along the tube length leading to lower oxygen partial pressures and, consequently, higher selectivities. In this way, higher ethylene production rates are feasible. Although molten salts provides enhanced heat removal, the oxygen injection at only the tube mouth in the conventional reactor leads to lower global selectivities and higher heat generation rates. In the membrane reactor design, the heat generation rate proves to be efficiently controlled by the permeation flow of oxygen through the membrane.Fil: Rodriguez, Maria L.. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Económico Sociales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Ardissone, Daniel Enrique. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Económico Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Pedernera, Marisa Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Borio, Daniel Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene in a membrane reactor: A theoretical study

This contribution presents a theoretical study of a multitubular packed-bed membrane reactor for the ethane to ethylene oxidative dehydrogenation reaction over a highly active and selective Ni-Nb-O mixed oxide catalyst. This theoretical study takes into account the radial composition and temperature profiles using a two-dimensional pseudo-homogeneous model on the reaction side. The feasibility and convenience of using this novel design, as well as the influence of the main operating variables on the reactor performance, are analyzed. The introduction of the membrane leads to lower oxygen partial pressures inside the catalyst tubes, which results in an improved selectivity to ethylene (lower heat generation rates) and high effective heat transfer area per unit volume. The multitubular membrane reactor enables significant ethylene productions per tube and milder temperature profiles than a conventional wall-cooled fixed-bed reactor. Operating conditions have to be carefully adjusted to avoid undesired oxygen accumulation inside the tubes. The presence of small amounts of oxygen at the reactor inlet significantly improves the ethylene production rates. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fil: Rodriguez, Maria Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Ardissone, Daniel Enrique. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Heracleous, Eleni. Aristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki; GreciaFil: Lemonidou, Angeliki A.. Aristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki; GreciaFil: Lopez, Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Pedernera, Marisa Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Borio, Daniel Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Gualcamayo Formation olistoliths (Middle Ordovician) embedded in the Rinconada Formation (Silurian-Devonian): paleontology, morphology and evolution remarks of the Ordovician and Silurian basins of Precordillera, Argentina

his contribution provides new paleontological and stratigraphic data for the Eastern Precordillera (San Juan province, Argentina) Ordovician basin. This is based on the description of a group of olistoliths, interpreted herein as coming from the lower beds of the Ordovician Gualcamayo Formation, found embedded within the matrix of the Silurian-early Devonian Rinconada Formation. These olistoliths are characterized by variable dimensions and uniform lithologies, composed of black shales and marlstones or following hectometric limestone blocks related to the San Juan Formation. The Gualcamayo Formation blocks show a graptolite fauna characterized by Holmograptus spinosus, H. bovis, Cryptograptus schaeferi, Paraglossograptus tentaculatus, Archiclimacograptus spp., Atopograptus sp., Pseudophyllograptus sp., Tetragraptus sp., and Xiphograptus sp.; whereas on the bedding plane surfaces, conodont elements of Histiodella sp., Paroistodus horridus, Periodon macrodentatus, and Protopanderodus sp. are found. In the interbedded black shales-marlstones, the trilobites Annamitella sp., Mendolaspis sp., and Carolinites? sp. are observed. The presence of this graptolite fauna allows recording the middle Darriwilian H. spinosus Zone, representing the third record in South America, and enabling a correlation with other outcrops of Precordillera and North America, Australasia, and China. These middle Darriwilian deposits at the La Rinconada section represent the youngest age ever recorded for the drowning phase of the Ordovician carbonate platform (locally referred to as transfacies). This is coherent with a progressive drowning model from north to south and agrees with the diachronism of the base of the Gualcamayo Formation and equivalent units. In addition, the difference between the underlying units of the Rinconada Formation in different sections, together with contrasting thickness measurements, might indicate evidence of the Alto del Tambolar tectonic activity during the Rinconada Formation accumulation in Eastern Precordillera. These processes were also previously recognized for the deposition of the Tucunuco Group in the Central Precordillera. This study expands the knowledge regarding the carbonate drowning process of the Precordillera basin that occurred during the Middle Ordovician and the effects of the Guandacol Tectonic Phase in the La Rinconada area, never mentioned until this moment