Effect of Preoperative Infusion of Levosimendan on Biomarkers of Myocardial Injury and Haemodynamics After Paediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Trial registry number: EudraCT 2012-005310-19.Key Points A randomised controlled trial was conducted to test the hypothesis that preoperative infusion of levosimendan would decrease myocardial injury biomarkers (troponin I and B-type natriuretic peptide) after paediatric cardiac surgery more efficiently than placebo. Troponin I and B-type natriuretic peptide levels were higher with placebo at 12 and 24 h after cardiopulmonary bypass, but the differences were not statistically significant. Lactic acid level was significantly lower and oxygen delivery (DO2) was significantly higher at 12 and 24 h after surgery in Levosimendan group. The results highlight the importance of this new drug and its possible benefit with regard to myocardial injury; however, evaluation in larger, adequately powered trials is needed to determine the efficacy of levosimendan.Objective The aim was to test the hypothesis that preoperative infusion of levosimendan would decrease patients’ cardiac biomarker profiles during the immediate postoperative stage (troponin I and B-type natriuretic peptide levels) more efficiently than placebo after cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods In a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study, 30 paediatric patients were scheduled for congenital heart disease surgery. 15 patients (50%) received prophylactic levosimendan and 15 patients (50%) received placebo from 12 h before cardiopulmonary bypass to 24 h after surgery. Results Troponin I levels were higher in the placebo group at 0, 12, and 24 h after cardiopulmonary bypass, although the mean differences between the study groups and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for troponin I levels did not present statistically significant differences at any of the three time points considered (mean differences [95% CIs] − 3.32 pg/ml [− 19.34 to 12.70], − 2.42 pg/ml [− 19.78 to 13.95], and − 79.94 pg/ml [− 266.99 to 16.39] at 0, 12, and 24 h, respectively). A similar lack of statistically significant difference was observed for B-type natriuretic peptide (mean differences [95% CIs] 36.86 pg/dl [− 134.16 to 225.64], − 350.79 pg/dl [− 1459.67 to 557.45], and − 310.35 pg/dl [− 1505.76 to 509.82]). Lactic acid levels were significantly lower with levosimendan; the mean differences between the study groups and the 95% CIs for lactate levels present statistically significant differences at 0 h (− 1.52 mmol/l [− 3.19 to − 0.25]) and 12 h (− 1.20 mmol/l [− 2.53 to − 0.10]) after cardiopulmonary bypass. Oxygen delivery (DO2) was significantly higher at 12 h and 24 h after surgery (mean difference [95% CI] 627.70 ml/min/m2 [122.34–1162.67] and 832.35 ml/min/m2 [58.15 to 1651.38], respectively). Conclusions Levosimendan does not significantly improve patients’ postoperative troponin I and B-type natriuretic peptide profiles during the immediate postoperative stage in comparison with placebo, although both were numerically higher with placebo. Levosimendan, however, significantly reduced lactic acid levels and improved patients’ DO2 profiles. These results highlight the importance of this new drug and its possible benefit with regard to myocardial injury; however, evaluation in larger, adequately powered trials is needed to determine the efficacy of levosimendan

Diversidad diferencial de esporas de Glomeromycota en la rizosfera de bromeliáceas nativas del Parque Nacional Sierra de las Quijadas (San Luis, Argentina)

Los hongos micorrícicos arbusculares (HMA) están ampliamente distribuidos en distintos ambientes y forman con la mayoría de las plantas asociaciones simbióticas denominadas micorrizas arbusculares. Bromeliaceae es una familia americana que habita desde los trópicos hasta zonas templadas y áridas. En el Parque Nacional Sierra de las Quijadas (San Luis, Argentina) las especies terrestres de Bromeliaceae están colonizadas por HMA, presentando distintos grados de asociación. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la diversidad (riqueza y densidad) de esporas de HMA en el suelo rizosférico de tres especies nativas de Bromeliaceae del Parque Nacional Sierra de las Quijadas. Riqueza y densidad de esporas difirieron significativamente entre las especies de Bromeliaceae estudiadas, siendo siempre marcadamente menores los valores obtenidos en Bromelia urbaniana, mientras que Deuterocohnia longipetala y Dyckia floribunda presentaron los mayores valores y sólo difirieron entre sí en la riqueza de HMA. Esta diversidad diferencial de esporas de HMA observada, podría tener relación con la especie hospedante y a su vez, con los distintos grados de colonización radical de cada especie. La escasa riqueza y densidad de esporas de HMA en B. urbaniana podría deberse tanto a un efecto alelopático de esta planta como a su particular morfología radical.Fil: Rivero Mega, Maria Soledad. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Area Ecológica; ArgentinaFil: Crespo, Esteban María. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Area Ecológica; ArgentinaFil: Molina, M.G.. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Area Ecológica; ArgentinaFil: Lugo, Mónica Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentin

Guía educación financiera escolar

Según La Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE), “La educación financiera es el proceso por el cual los consumidores/inversores financieros mejoran su conocimiento sobre los productos, conceptos y riesgos financieros y, a través de información, instrucción y/o consejo objetivo, desarrollan las habilidades y confianza para adquirir una mayor concienciación de los riesgos y oportunidades financieras, para tomar decisiones informadas, para saber dónde acudir para pedir ayuda y adoptar otras medidas efectivas para mejorar su bienestar financiero”. Sin embargo, con el fin de darle una mirada más amplia, el modelo se separa un poco de la visión monetarista de varios modelos del pasado y trasciende hacia una mirada integral donde se ubica al ser humano en el centro del aprendizaje

Paisajes y flora forestal de al-Andalus: una reconstrucción a partir de documentación histórica textual

The translation and interpretation of works by Andalusi botanists and agronomists provide an increasingly sharp image of the species and forest landscapes in al-Andalus (Iberian area under Muslim rule in the Middle Ages). Regarding agriculture, it is known that domestication processes and the introduction of new species and singular forms of use were carried out, thus changing agricultural landscapes. Consequently, new life styles and consumption habits developed. A lot less is known about forestry management, especially when referring to forest landscapes and tree species in the Iberian Peninsula. The authors of this work have been studying agricultural and forest flora in al-Andalus for many years. In addition to numerous miscellaneous contributions, their first approximation on the trees and shrubs cultivated there was published in 2004, and the first volume of Flora Agrícola y Forestal de Al-Andalus covering 80 species of monocotyledons appeared in 2012. In anticipation of the volume devoted to woody dicotyledons to be published in 2019 (including over 150 species, 100 genera and 50 families), a synthesis of the forest landscapes and the most unique species in the Arabic texts is presented in this work. Among the taxa identified are Iberian endemics such as Flueggea tinctoria and Corema album, rare taxa or highly localized ones like Rhododendron ponticum subsp. baeticum, Tetraclinis articulata and Zizyphus lotus with species of peculiar forestry interest such as Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Taxus baccata, Buxus sempervirens, Ilex aquifolium, Laurus nobilis and Vitex agnus-castus, and archaeophytes like Celtis australis or Anagyris foetida.La traducción e interpretación de las obras de botánicos y geóponos andalusíes permite vislumbrar, de forma cada vez más nítida, las especies y paisajes forestales de al-Andalus (área ibérica bajo dominación musulmana en la Edad Media). En el ámbito agrícola es conocido que se desarrollaron procesos de domesticación e introducción de nuevas especies y formas singulares de uso que cambiaron los paisajes agrícolas y, en consecuencia, también las formas de vida y alimentación, pero es mucho menos conocido lo concerniente al ámbito forestal, especialmente si nos referimos a los paisajes y especies forestales ibéricas. Los autores estudian la Flora Agrícola y Forestal en al-Andalus. Además de numerosas contribuciones misceláneas, una primera aproximación sobre los árboles y arbustos cultivados fue publicada en 2004, y un primer volumen de la citada Flora en 2012, abarcando 80 especies de monocotiledóneas. Como adelanto al volumen dedicado a las dicotiledóneas leñosas, que será publicado en 2019 (con más de 150 especies de 100 géneros y 50 familias), se presenta ahora una síntesis de los paisajes forestales y de las especies más singulares identificadas en los textos estudiados. Entre ellas hay endemismos ibéricos como Fluggea tinctoria y Corema album, taxones raros o muy localizados como Rhododendron ponticum subsp. baeticum, Tetraclinis articulata o Zizyphus lotus, junto a especies de singular interés forestal como Arctostaphilos uva-ursi, Taxus baccata, Buxus sempervirens, Ilex aquifolium, Laurus nobilis o Vitex agnus-castus, y arqueófitos como Celtis australis o Anagyris foetida

Fractionation of Pinus radiata wood by combination of steam explosion and organosolv delignification

This work proposes a sequential combination of steam explosion and organosolv delignification for Pinus radiata fractionation. An efficient pretreatment to fully optimize the use of lignocellulosic materials is the key to make a biorefinery profitable, especially for softwoods, known to be more recalcitrant than other lignocellulosic raw materials. Steam explosion has a dual effect on biomass as morphological and chemical changes are introduced. A delignifying stage has been stated to be necessary in order to ease hydrolytic enzymes accessibility to cellulose while avoiding non-productive bonds with the lignin present. Three steam explosion conditions were tested (170°C, 5 min; 180°C, 10 min; 170°C, 5+5 min) followed by an organosolv delignification stage, carried out at two different conditions (170°C, 60 min; 170°C, 90 min). All treatment yields, delignification extent, and hydrolysis yields were determined to evaluate each stage. The steam explosion treatment did not produce high delignification extent. Maximum global delignification (50.4%) was achieved when combining the two-cycle steam explosion with the most severe post-treatment condition tested. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulosic residue improved after organosolv delignification; however, hydrolysis yields did not exceed 35%. The chemical changes undergone by softwood lignins are presumably responsible for the low digestibility.Fil: Imlauer Vedoya, Camila María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones; ArgentinaFil: Vergara Alarcón, Priscila. Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria; EspañaFil: Area, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones; ArgentinaFil: Revilla, Esteban. Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria. Centro de Investigación Forestal; EspañaFil: Felissia, Fernando Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones; ArgentinaFil: Villar, Juan Carlos. Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria. Centro de Investigación Forestal; Españ

Endocrine Sequelae in 157 Pediatric Survivors of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)

Successful rates of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) face paralleled escalation of late endocrine and metabolic effects. Objective: This work aimed to characterize these sequelae distinguishing between the underlying pathologies and treatments received. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in 157 children post-HSCT (hematopoietic pathology [N = 106], solid tumors [N = 40], and rare entities [N = 11]) followed at a single endocrine department between 2009 and 2019. Regression analysis was used to ascertain association. Results: Of all patients, 58.7% presented with at least one endocrine abnormality. Endocrinopathies post HSCT were most frequently developed in lymphoblastic leukemia (60.5% of them), whereas myeloid leukemias had the fewest. A total of 64% of patients presented with primary hypogonadism, 52% short stature, and 20% obesity. Endocrinopathy was associated with older age at HSCT (9.78 years [6.25-12.25] vs 6.78 years [4.06-9.75]) (P <. 005), pubertal Tanner stage V (P <. 001), chronic graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) (P =. 022), and direct gonadal therapy (P =. 026). The incidence of endocrinopathies was higher in girls (15% more common; P <. 02) and in patients who received radiotherapy (18% higher), steroids (17.4% increase), allogenic HSCT (7% higher), thymoglobulin, or cyclophosphamide. Those on busulfan presented with a 27.5% higher rate of primary hypogonadism (P =. 003). Conclusion: More than half of children surviving HSCT will develop endocrinopathies. Strikingly, obesity has risen to the third most frequent endocrine disruption, mainly due to steroids, and partly adhering to the general population tendency. Lymphoblastic leukemia was the condition with a higher rate of endocrine abnormalities. Female sex, older age at HSCT, pubertal stage, allogenic transplant, radiotherapy, alkylating drugs, and GVHD pose risk factors for endocrine disturbance

The Jak2 Pathway Is Activated In Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most rapidly progressive and fatal fibrotic disorder, with no curative therapies. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) protein is activated in lung fibroblasts and alveolar type II cells (ATII), thereby contributing to lung fibrosis in IPF. Although activation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) has been implicated in proliferative disorders, its role in IPF is unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze JAK2 activation in IPF, and to determine whether JAK2/STAT3 inhibition is a potential therapeutic strategy for this disease. Methods and results: JAK2/p-JAK2 and STAT3/pSTAT3 expression was evaluated using quantitative real time-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Compared to human healthy lung tissue (n = 10) both proteins were upregulated in the lung tissue of IPF patients (n = 12). Stimulating primary ATII and lung fibroblasts with transforming growth factor beta 1 or interleukin (IL)-6/IL-13 activated JAK2 and STAT3, inducing epithelial to mesenchymal and fibroblast to myofibroblast transitions. Dual p-JAK2/p-STAT3 inhibition with JSI-124 or silencing of JAK2 and STAT3 genes suppressed ATII and the fibroblast to myofibroblast transition, with greater effects than the sum of those obtained using JAK2 or STAT3 inhibitors individually. Dual rather than single inhibition was also more effective for inhibiting fibroblast migration, preventing increases in fibroblast senescence and Bcl-2 expression, and ameliorating impaired autophagy. In rats administered JSI-124, a dual inhibitor of p-JAK2/p-STAT3, at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day, bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis was reduced and collagen deposition in the lung was inhibited, as were JAK2 and STAT3 activation and several markers of fibrosis, autophagy, senescence, and anti-apoptosis. Conclusions: JAK2 and STAT3 are activated in IPF, and their dual inhibition may be an attractive strategy for treating this disease

Thinning of the Monte Perdido Glacier in the Spanish Pyrenees since 1981

Producción CientíficaThis paper analyzes the evolution of the Monte Perdido Glacier, the third largest glacier in the Pyrenees, from 1981 to the present. We assessed the evolution of the glacier's surface area by analysis of aerial photographs from 1981, 1999, and 2006, and changes in ice volume by geodetic methods with digital elevation models (DEMs) generated from topographic maps (1981 and 1999), airborne lidar (2010) and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014) data. We interpreted the changes in the glacier based on climate data from nearby meteorological stations. The results indicate that the degradation of this glacier accelerated after 1999. The rate of ice surface loss was almost three times greater during 1999–2006 than during earlier periods. Moreover, the rate of glacier thinning was 1.85 times faster during 1999–2010 (rate of surface elevation change  = −8.98 ± 1.80 m, glacier-wide mass balance  = −0.73 ± 0.14 m w.e. yr−1) than during 1981–1999 (rate of surface elevation change  = −8.35 ± 2.12 m, glacier-wide mass balance  = −0.42 ± 0.10 m w.e. yr−1). From 2011 to 2014, ice thinning continued at a slower rate (rate of surface elevation change  = −1.93 ± 0.4 m yr−1, glacier-wide mass balance  = −0.58 ± 0.36 m w.e. yr−1). This deceleration in ice thinning compared to the previous 17 years can be attributed, at least in part, to two consecutive anomalously wet winters and cool summers (2012–2013 and 2013–2014), counteracted to some degree by the intense thinning that occurred during the dry and warm 2011–2012 period. However, local climatic changes observed during the study period do not seem sufficient to explain the acceleration of ice thinning of this glacier, because precipitation and air temperature did not exhibit statistically significant trends during the study period. Rather, the accelerated degradation of this glacier in recent years can be explained by a strong disequilibrium between the glacier and the current climate, and likely by other factors affecting the energy balance (e.g., increased albedo in spring) and feedback mechanisms (e.g., heat emitted from recently exposed bedrock and debris covered areas).Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad - IBERNIEVE (project CGL2014-52599-P)Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (project 844/2013

Production of triacylglycerols rich in palmitic acid at sn-2 position by lipase-catalyzed acidolysis

This paper studies the synthesis of triacylglycerols (TAGs) rich in palmitic acid (PA) at sn-2 position from palm stearin (PS), a vegetable oil highly rich in PA (60%, but only 12.8% of this is located at sn-2 position). These PA rich TAGs were obtained by lipase-catalyzed acidolysis of this oil with free fatty acids (FFAs) highly rich in PA, such as commercial PA (98% PA) and a FFA extract obtained by saponification of PS (60% PA). PA has a melting point of 63 ºC and during the acidolysis reaction the substrates, highly rich in this acid, must remain liquid; therefore high temperatures or solvents must be used. An important objective of this work was to operate without solvent and at the lowest possible temperature. In this acidolysis reaction four factors were firstly studied: type of lipase, temperature, solvent amount and the intensity of treatment (IOT = lipase amount × reaction time/PS amount). The influence of these variables was studied in a stirred tank reactor (STR). The lipases tested were Novozym 435 from Candida antarctica (immobilized on a macroporous acrylic resin), and lipases QLC (immobilized on diatomaceous earth), and QLM (non immobilized), both from Alcaligenes sp., and the one selected was lipase QLC. According to the manufacturer the optimum temperature for this lipase is 65-70 ºC, which allows it to operate without solvent. The best results with lipase QLC (TAGs with 80% PA, both total and at sn-2 position) were obtained with commercial PA, at 65 ºC, a 3:1 FFA/PS molar ratio (1:1 w/w), without solvent and an IOT = 7 g lipase × h/g PS (for example 2.5 g PS, 2.5 g commercial PA, 0.75 g lipase and 24 h). These results were the basis for establishing the operational conditions to obtain PA rich TAGs with the lipase immobilized in a packed bed reactor (PBR), operating by recirculation of the reaction mixture through the lipase bed. In this system TAGs with 75% PA were obtained at an IOT = 8 g lipase × h/g PS. This result and the apparent kinetic constants obtained in both reactors show that the reaction rate is lower in the PBR than in the STR. Subsequently, PA enriched TAGs were separated from FFAs by two procedures: the first one at room temperature and in presence of hexane and the second one at 65 ºC and without hexane. Using the first procedure, 95% of TAGs in the acidolysis reaction mixture were recovered with a purity of 99%. Using the second one, 98% pure TAGs were obtained with a recovery yield of 80%. Therefore, these highly rich PA TAGs can be obtained by acidolysis of PS and PA rich FFAs in solvent-free media, and then these TAGs also can be purified to 98% in absence of hexane, using only a hydroethanolic KOH solution.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, FEDER, Proyects AGL2003-03335, CTQ2007-6407

Materiales para prevenir la violencia contra las mujeres desde el marco educativo [Texto impreso]: unidad didáctica para Educación Secundaria

Bibliografía: p. 71-7