Improved Toughness of Polylactide by Binary Blends with Polycarbonate with Glycidyl and Maleic Anhydride-Based Compatibilizers

[EN] This work reports on the development of polylactide (PLA) and polycarbonate (PC) blends with different compatibilizers with enhanced toughness. Since both polymers are immiscible, two types of compatibilizers are tested: petrochemical-based copolymers Xibond 160 and Xibond 920 with maleic anhydride and epoxy groups, respectively, and natural-based compatibilizers with the same functionalities, namely maleinized linseed oil (MLO) and, epoxidized linseed oil (ELO). Mechanical, thermal, and morphological characterization shows better properties for the PLA/PC (80/20 wt%) blends with chemically modified natural oils (ELO and MLO). The addition of 5 phr (parts per hundred resin) of MLO gives the maximum values for impact strength and elongation at break. Moreover, the glass transition temperature (Tg) slightly decreases with the addition of natural compatibilizers, thus showing some plasticization effect. Petroleum-derived compatibilizers give interesting results regarding tensile strength and stiffness without plasticization. PLA/PC blends show higher thermal stability than neat PLA, regardless of the compatibilizer used, since PC is much more thermally stable than PLA. The obtained results indicate that both petroleum-based and natural-derived compatibilizers positively contribute to enhance the properties of the binary PLA/PC blends. Nevertheless, the results with MLO suggest this is an interesting biobased solution to provide increased toughness to PLA/PC blends.L.Q.-C. wants to thank Universitat Politècnica de València for his postdoctoral PAID-10-20 grant from (SP20200073). J.G.-C. wants to thank Universitat Politècnica de València for his FPI grant from (SP20200080). This research was funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (MICIU) project number MAT2017-84909-C2-2-R.Tejada-Oliveros, R.; Gómez-Caturla, J.; Sanchez-Nacher, L.; Montanes, N.; Quiles-Carrillo, L. (2021). Improved Toughness of Polylactide by Binary Blends with Polycarbonate with Glycidyl and Maleic Anhydride-Based Compatibilizers. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering. 306(12):1-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202100480S1113061

Improvement of Impact Strength of Polylactide Blends with a Thermoplastic Elastomer Compatibilized with Biobased Maleinized Linseed Oil for Applications in Rigid Packaging

[EN] This research work reports the potential of maleinized linseed oil (MLO) as biobased compatibilizer in polylactide (PLA) and a thermoplastic elastomer, namely, polystyrene¿b¿(ethylene¿ran¿butylene)¿b¿styrene (SEBS) blends (PLA/SEBS), with improved impact strength for the packaging industry. The effects of MLO are compared with a conventional polystyrene¿b¿poly(ethylene¿ran¿butylene)¿b¿polystyrene¿graft¿maleic anhydride terpolymer (SEBS¿g¿MA) since it is widely used in these blends. Uncompatibilized and compatibilized PLA/SEBS blends can be manufactured by extrusion and then shaped into standard samples for further characterization by mechanical, thermal, morphological, dynamical¿mechanical, wetting and colour standard tests. The obtained results indicate that the uncompatibilized PLA/SEBS blend containing 20 wt.% SEBS gives improved toughness (4.8 kJ/m2) compared to neat PLA (1.3 kJ/m2). Nevertheless, the same blend compatibilized with MLO leads to an increase in impact strength up to 6.1 kJ/m2, thus giving evidence of the potential of MLO to compete with other petroleum¿ derived compatibilizers to obtain tough PLA formulations. MLO also provides increased ductile properties, since neat PLA is a brittle polymer with an elongation at break of 7.4%, while its blend with 20 wt.% SEBS and MLO as compatibilizer offers an elongation at break of 50.2%, much higher than that provided by typical SEBS¿g¿MA compatibilizer (10.1%). MLO provides a slight decrease (about 3 °C lower) in the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the PLA¿rich phase, thus showing some plasticization effects. Although MLO addition leads to some yellowing due to its intrinsic yellow colour, this can contribute to serving as a UV light barrier with interesting applications in the packaging industry. Therefore, MLO represents a cost¿effective and sustainable solution to the use of conventional petroleum¿derived compatibilizers.This research was funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (MICIU) project number MAT2017-84909-C2-2-RTejada-Oliveros, R.; Balart, R.; Ivorra-Martínez, J.; Gómez-Caturla, J.; Montanes, N.; Quiles-Carrillo, L. (2021). Improvement of Impact Strength of Polylactide Blends with a Thermoplastic Elastomer Compatibilized with Biobased Maleinized Linseed Oil for Applications in Rigid Packaging. Molecules. 26(1):1-19. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26010240S11926

Abdominal tuberculosis mimicking Crohn’s disease’s exacerbation: a clinical, diagnostic and surgical dilemma. A case report

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis in Europe is a health public problem, which has increased constantly over the last few decades. The most common clinical manifestation of tuberculosis is pulmonary. The diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis can be challenging and clinical manifestations of gastrointestinal tuberculosis are unspecific and can mimic other pathologies. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A young Chinese man, who had recently been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, was admitted to the emergency room of our hospital with a one-month history of diffuse abdominal pain and weight loss. The patient initially presented with epigastric pain, which had been constantly increasing over the last 48 h. Other symptoms included diarrhea, nausea, and fever. The patient was then admitted with the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease exacerbation, and a treatment with corticosteroids, azathioprine, mesalazine, adalimumab, and antibiotic therapy was started. The symptoms were due to an initially misdiagnosed case of abdominal tuberculosis. DISCUSSION: Intestinal tuberculosis is mainly localized at the ileocecal level in 85% of patients. Medical therapy is the treatment of choice and surgery is not required if it is diagnosed at an early stage.’ CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis still remains a challenge for both internists and surgeons. Before starting a therapy with adalimumab, every patient should be tested for latent tuberculosis infection

On the Use of Phenolic Compounds Present in Citrus Fruits and Grapes as Natural Antioxidants for Thermo-Compressed Bio-Based High-Density Polyethylene Films

[EN] This study originally explores the use of naringin (NAR), gallic acid (GA), caffeic acid (CA), and quercetin (QUER) as natural antioxidants for bio-based high-density polyethylene (bio-HDPE). These phenolic compounds are present in various citrus fruits and grapes and can remain in their leaves, peels, pulp, and seeds as by-products or wastes after juice processing. Each natural additive was first melt-mixed at 0.8 parts per hundred resin (phr) of bio-HDPE by extrusion and the resultant pellets were shaped into films by thermo-compression. Although all the phenolic compounds colored the bio-HDPE films, their contact transparency was still preserved. The chemical analyses confirmed the successful inclusion of the phenolic compounds in bio-HDPE, though their interaction with the green polyolefin matrix was low. The mechanical performance of the bio-HDPE films was nearly unaffected by the natural compounds, presenting in all cases a ductile behavior. Interestingly, the phenolic compounds successfully increased the thermo-oxidative stability of bio-HDPE, yielding GA and QUER the highest performance. In particular, using these phenolic compounds, the onset oxidation temperature (OOT) value was improved by 43 and 41.5 ºC, respectively. Similarly, the oxidation induction time (OIT) value, determined in isothermal conditions at 210 ºC, increased from 4.5 min to approximately 109 and 138 min. Furthermore, the onset degradation temperature in air of bio-HDPE, measured for the 5% of mass loss (T5%), was improved by up to 21 ºC after the addition of NAR. Moreover, the GA- and CA-containing bio-HDPE films showed a high antioxidant activity in alcoholic solution due to their favored release capacity, which opens up novel opportunities in active food packaging. The improved antioxidant performance of these phenolic compounds was ascribed to the multiple presence of hydroxyl groups and aromatic heterocyclic rings that provide these molecules with the features to permit the delocalization and the scavenging of free radicals. Therefore, the here-tested phenolic compounds, in particular QUER, can represent a sustainable and cost-effective alternative of synthetic antioxidants in polymer and biopolymer formulations, for which safety and environmental issues have been raised over timeThis research work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICI) project number MAT2017-84909-C2-2-R.Rojas-Lema, SP.; Torres-Giner, S.; Quiles-Carrillo, L.; Gómez-Caturla, J.; Garcia-Garcia, D.; Balart, R. (2021). On the Use of Phenolic Compounds Present in Citrus Fruits and Grapes as Natural Antioxidants for Thermo-Compressed Bio-Based High-Density Polyethylene Films. Antioxidants. 10(1):1-23. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10010014S12310

L-arginine ameliorates defective autophagy in GM2 gangliosidoses by mTOR modulation

Aims: Tay–Sachs and Sandhoff diseases (GM2 gangliosidosis) are autosomal recessive disorders of lysosomal function that cause progressive neurodegeneration in infants and young children. Impaired hydrolysis catalysed by β-hexosaminidase A (HexA) leads to the accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in neuronal lysosomes. Despite the storage phenotype, the role of autophagy and its regulation by mTOR has yet to be explored in the neuropathogenesis. Accordingly, we investigated the effects on autophagy and lysosomal integrity using skin fibroblasts obtained from patients with Tay–Sachs and Sandhoff diseases. Results: Pathological autophagosomes with impaired autophagic flux, an abnormality confirmed by electron microscopy and biochemical studies revealing the accelerated release of mature cathepsins and HexA into the cytosol, indicating increased lysosomal permeability. GM2 fibroblasts showed diminished mTOR signalling with reduced basal mTOR activity. Accordingly, provision of a positive nutrient signal by L-arginine supplementation partially restored mTOR activity and ameliorated the cytopathological abnormalities. Innovation: Our data provide a novel molecular mechanism underlying GM2 gangliosidosis. Impaired autophagy caused by insufficient lysosomal function might represent a new therapeutic target for these diseases. Conclusions: We contend that the expression of autophagy/lysosome/mTOR-associated molecules may prove useful peripheral biomarkers for facile monitoring of treatment of GM2 gangliosidosis and neurodegenerative disorders that affect the lysosomal function and disrupt autophagy

The EPICTER score: a bedside and easy tool to predict mortality at 6 months in acute heart failure

Aims: Estimating the prognosis in heart failure (HF) is important to decide when to refer to palliative care (PC). Our objective was to develop a tool to identify the probability of death within 6 months in patients admitted with acute HF. Methods and results: A total of 2848 patients admitted with HF in 74 Spanish hospitals were prospectively included and followed for 6 months. Each factor independently associated with death in the derivation cohort (60% of the sample) was assigned a prognostic weight, and a risk score was calculated. The accuracy of the score was verified in the validation cohort. The characteristics of the population were as follows: advanced age (mean 78 years), equal representation of men and women, significant comorbidity, and predominance of HF with preserved ejection fraction. During follow-up, 753 patients (26%) died. Seven independent predictors of mortality were identified: age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cognitive impairment, New York Heart Association class III-IV, chronic kidney disease, estimated survival of the patient less than 6 months, and acceptance of a palliative approach by the family or the patient. The area under the ROC curve for 6 month death was 0.74 for the derivation and 0.68 for the validation cohort. The model showed good calibration (Hosmer and Lemeshow test, P value 0.11). The 6 month death rates in the score groups ranged from 6% (low risk) to 54% (very high risk). Conclusions: The EPICTER score, developed from a prospective and unselected cohort, is a bedside and easy-to-use tool that could help to identify high-risk patients requiring PC

Validation of three predictive models for suboptimal cytoreductive surgery in advanced ovarian cancer

The standard treatment for advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) is cytoreduction surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Tumor volume after surgery is a major prognostic factor for these patients. The ability to perform complete cytoreduction depends on the extent of disease and the skills of the surgical team. Several predictive models have been proposed to evaluate the possibility of performing complete cytoreductive surgery (CCS). External validation of the prognostic value of three predictive models (Fagotti index and the R3 and R4 models) for predicting suboptimal cytoreductive surgery (SCS) in AOC was performed in this study. The scores of the 3 models were evaluated in one hundred and three consecutive patients diagnosed with AOC treated in a tertiary hospital were evaluated. Clinicopathological features were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. The performance of the three models was evaluated, and calibration and discrimination were analyzed. The calibration of the Fagotti, R3 and R4 models showed odds ratios of obtaining SCSs of 1.5, 2.4 and 2.4, respectively, indicating good calibration. The discrimination of the Fagotti, R3 and R4 models showed an area under the ROC curve of 83%, 70% and 81%, respectively. The negative predictive values of the three models were higher than the positive predictive values for SCS. The three models were able to predict suboptimal cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer, but they were more reliable for predicting CCS. The R4 model discriminated better because it includes the laparotomic evaluation of the peritoneal carcinomatosis index

Services provided by birds (high-mobile link species) in farmland and forest mosaics: forest regeneration and plague regulation

Este trabajo ha sido financiado con fondos de los proyectos CICYT Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (CGL2007−60533/BOS, CGL2010−18312/BOS) y del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CGL2014−53308−P), de la red REMEDINAL (S−0505/AMB/ 0335, S2009 AMB−1783, S2013/MAE−2719 y TE-CM S2018/EMT- 4338), de la Universidad de Alcalá (CCG2014/BIO−002) y del MAGRAMA y la Fundación Biodiversidad a través de la Fundación Internacional para la Restauración de Ecosistemas. GGS fue financiado con una beca FPU (AP2006−00891) y SMH por una beca FPI (BES−2008−006630), ambas del Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia. LMB fue financiada por una beca FPI (BES-2015-075276) del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología. NM fue financiada por una beca de la Universidad de Alcalá. ABL agradece ayudas postdoctorales Juan de la Cierva (FJCI-2015-23687) y de la Fundación Alexander von Humboldt. Agradecemos la colaboración de la Dirección Xeral de Conservación da Natureza de la Xunta de Galicia por las facilidades para desarrollar las investigaciones realizadas en esta Comunidad y de las bodegas de Abadía Retuerta y Martín Berdugo y de Haciendas Bio. Finalmente, agradecemos la contribución de un revisor anónimo que mejoró la versión original de este artículo.Los elementos que soportan las funciones y servicios de los ecosistemas son insuficientemente conocidos, mermando nuestra capacidad para planificar la conservación, restauración y manejo de los ecosistemas. Entre dichos elementos, el papel de la avifauna es especialmente relevante al ser especies de gran movilidad (high mobile link species) que conectan distintas unidades del paisaje. Este trabajo analiza servicios ecosistémicos importantes dependientes de interacciones biológicas mediadas por la avifauna en mosaicos agroforestales. Abordamos tres objetivos específicos: el papel de (1) los córvidos en la dispersión y reclutamiento de quercíneas, (2) la avifauna insectívora en la regulación de plagas en cultivos leñosos y (3) las aves rapaces en la regulación de avifauna-plaga en viñedos. Nuestros resultados evidencian que la avifauna realiza funciones y servicios claves para la regeneración forestal y la regulación de plagas en mosaicos agroforestales. Identificamos especies que se desconocía que realizaban una función relevante, en particular la urraca (Pica pica), cuya actividad resulta en una dispersión efectiva de nueces y bellotas, y el abejero europeo (Pernis apivorus), con un elevado consumo de avispa asiática (Vespa velutina). La instalación de cajas-nido en cultivos leñosos aumenta las poblaciones de aves insectívoras que regulan plagas; sin embargo, la capacidad de regulación de las plagas es moderada y depende del contexto ambiental o estudio de caso. Las rapaces diurnas existentes en los paisajes estudiados contribuyen al control de plagas agrícolas como la del estornino negro (Sturnus unicolor). Proponemos integrar los servicios que proporcionan las aves en la ordenación del territorio para alcanzar modelos de desarrollo más sostenibles.The elements that support functions and ecosystem services are not well known yet, and this gap reduces our capacity to plan the conservation, restoration, and management of ecosystems. Among these elements, the role of avifauna is especially relevant as birds are high-mobile link species that connect different landscape units. This article analyzes important ecosystem services driven by biological interactions that are mediated by birds in farmland and forest mosaics. We propose three specific goals: to assess the role of (1) corvids in the dispersal and recruitment of oak species, (2) insectivorous birds in pest regulation of woody crops, and (3) raptors in regulation of plague birds in vineyards. Our results show that the avifauna performs key functions and services for forest regeneration and pest regulation in agroforestry mosaics. We identified species that were not known to perform relevant functions, particularly the magpie (Pica pica) and its effective dispersion of nuts and acorns, and the honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) and its high consumption of Asian black hornet (Vespa velutina). The installation of nest-boxes in woody crops increases the populations of insectivorous birds that regulate pests; however, the capacity of pest control is moderate and depends on the environmental context or case study. The diurnal raptors thriving in the studied landscapes contribute to the control of agricultural pests such as the spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor). We propose to integrate the services provided by birds in landscape planning to achieve more sustainable development systems.Financiado con fondos de los proyectos CICYT Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (CGL2007−60533/BOS, CGL2010−18312/BOS) y del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CGL2014−53308−P), de la red REMEDINAL (S−0505/AMB/ 0335, S2009 AMB−1783, S2013/MAE−2719 y TE-CM S2018/EMT- 4338), de la Universidad de Alcalá (CCG2014/BIO−002) y del MAGRAMA y la Fundación Biodiversidad a través de la Fundación Internacional para la Restauración de Ecosistemas. GGS fue financiado con una beca FPU (AP2006−00891) y SMH por una beca FPI (BES−2008−006630), ambas del Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia. LMB fue financiada por una beca FPI (BES-2015-075276) del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología. NM fue financiada por una beca de la Universidad de Alcalá. ABL agradece ayudas postdoctorales Juan de la Cierva (FJCI-2015-23687) y de la Fundación Alexander von Humbold

Dendritic cell deficiencies persist seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection induces an exacerbated inflammation driven by innate immunity components. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in the defense against viral infections, for instance plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), have the capacity to produce vast amounts of interferon-alpha (IFN-α). In COVID-19 there is a deficit in DC numbers and IFN-α production, which has been associated with disease severity. In this work, we described that in addition to the DC deficiency, several DC activation and homing markers were altered in acute COVID-19 patients, which were associated with multiple inflammatory markers. Remarkably, previously hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients remained with decreased numbers of CD1c+ myeloid DCs and pDCs seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, the expression of DC markers such as CD86 and CD4 were only restored in previously nonhospitalized patients, while no restoration of integrin β7 and indoleamine 2,3-dyoxigenase (IDO) levels were observed. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the immunological sequelae of COVID-19

Revisión y Control del Plan de Vigilancia Ambiental de las obras de dragado del Puerto de Maó

Se integra información hidrográfica, geomorfológica, sedimentológica y biológica, para la caracterización de los ecosistemas marinos en el punto de vertido y área adyacente previa al inicio de las obras de dragado del Puerto de Maó.RESUMEN: En este documento se presentan los trabajos científicos realizados por el Instituto Español de Oceanografía, dentro del Plan de Vigilancia Ambiental del dragado del Puerto de Maó (Menorca, Islas Baleares), para la caracterización de los ecosistema marino en el punto de vertido y área adyacente, previa al inicio de las obras. Se incluyen los resultados y las conclusiones de los estudios realizados por diversos grupos de investigación, principalmente en Enero-Marzo 2014, en relación al fondo marino, la hidrodinámica, las praderas de Posidonia oceanica y el molusco bivalvo Pinna nobilis, el macro-bentos de los fondos circalitorales blandos y los contaminantes en agua, sedimentos y biota, así como en especies de interés comercial para el consumo humano. Este informe se contempla en el contrato entre la Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares y el Instituto Español de Oceanografía, suscrito el 5 Febrero 2014, para los trabajos de asistencia técnica para la revisión y control del Plan de Vigilancia Ambiental del dragado del Puerto de Maó.RESUM: En aquest document es presenten els treballs científics realitzats per l’Instituto Español de Oceanografía, dins del Pla de Vigilància Ambiental del dragat del Port de Maó (Menorca, Illes Balears), per a la caracterització dels ecosistemes marins en el punt de vessament i àrea adjacent, prèvia a l’inici de les obres. S’inclouen els resultats i les conclusions del estudis realitzats per diversos grups de recerca, principalment durant Gener-Març 2014, en relació al fons marí, la hidrodinàmica, les praderies de Posidonia oceanica i el mol•lusc bivalve Pinna nobilis, el macro-bentos dels fons circalitorals tous i els contaminants en aigua, sediments i biota, així com en espècies d’interès comercial pel consum humà. Aquest informe es contempla en el contracte entre l’Autoritat Portuària de Balears i el Instituto Español de Oceanografía, subscrit el 5 Febrer 2014, pels treballs d’assistència tècnica per a la revisió i control del Pla de Vigilància Ambiental del dragat de Port de Maó.ABSTRACT: This document presents the scientific actions developed by the Instituto Español de Oceanografía within the Environmental Monitoring Plan of the works of dredging the Port of Maó (Minorca, Balearic Islands), for the characterization of the marine ecosystems in the point of discharge of dredged material and adjacent area, before the beginning of the dredging. The results and conclusions of the studies developed by several research groups, mainly in January-March 2014, in relation to the bottom, hydrodynamics, Posidonia oceanica meadows, and the bivalve mollusc Pinna nobilis, the macro-benthos of the circalittoral soft bottoms and the contaminants in water, sediments and biota, as well as in commercial species for human consumption, are included. This report is contemplated within the contract between the Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares and the Instituto Español de Oceanografía, signed on 5 February 2014, for the technical assistance activities to review and control the Environmental Monitoring Plan of the works of dredging the Port of Maó.Autoridad Portuaria de Baleare