Enfermedad de Creutzfeld Jakob, desafío diagnóstico : reporte de dos casos en la ciudad de Mendoza

La enfermedad de Creutzfeldt-Jakob (ECJ) es una afección neurodege-nerativa rápidamente progresiva y mortal producida por priones. Es la más común de las encefalopatías espongiformes. La hipótesis prevalente sugiere que se inicia y propaga por conversión de una proteína priónica normal (PrP) en una isoforma conformacional anormal (PrPreS), que se acumula en el cerebro causando destrucción neuronal. Se reporta el caso de dos pacientes asistido en el Servicio de Neurología del Hospital Lagomaggiore de la ciudad de Mendoza en el período de 2 años: mujer de 49 años con cuadro de deterioro cognitivo rápidamente progresivo asociado a trastorno de la marcha y ataxia de 2 meses de evolución; y varón de 54 años con conductas inapropiadas y desorientación temporo-espacial de 20 días de evolución. Ambos con EEG compatible y proteína 14.3.3 positiva, falleciendo semanas después del diagnóstico. Se discute ambos casos, los cuales representaron un desafío diagnóstico dada la baja frecuencia y escaso reconocimiento de esta entidad en nuestro medio, debiendo debe ser considerado en pacientes que evolucionan a una demencia rápidamente progresiva.Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by prions. It is the most common of spongiform encephalopathies. The most accepted hypothesis suggests that it initiates and propagates through conversion of normal prion protein (PrP) in an abnormal conformational isoform (PrPres), which accumulates in the brain causing neuronal destruction. The cases of two patients assisted in the Department of Neurology of Hospital Lagomaggiore city of Mendoza in 2-year period are reported: A 49-year old female patient with symptoms of rapidly progressing cognitive impairment associated with gait disturbance and ataxia of 2 months of progression; and a 54-year old male with misconduct and temporo-spatial disorientation of 20 days of evolution. In both cases, EEG was compatible with CJD and 14.3.3 protein was positive, dying weeks after diagnosis. Both cases are discussed, which represented a diagnostic challenge given the low frequency and little recognition of this entity in our environment, must be considered in patients who develop a rapidly progressive dementia.Fil: Galiana, Graciana Lourdes. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina)Fil: Farfan Alé, F.. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina)Fil: De Monte, M.. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina)Fil: Sánchez, C.. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina)Fil: Torres, A.. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina)Fil: Ianardi, S.. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina)Fil: Genco, J.. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina)Fil: Genco, D.. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina)Fil: Castellino, G.. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina

The (C-H) bond dissociation energy in the methyl group of toluene

A, kinetic study of the pyrolysis of toluene by a flow technique has been made, and assuming Szwarc\u27s mechanism, two activation energies (78.3 and 84 kcal/mole depending on the temperature range used) have been derived for the dissociation of the (C-H) bond in the methyl group of toluene. The lower value agrees quite well with Szwarc\u27s, and the higher value turns out to be approximately the average of 77.5 and 89.9. The results of this research suggest 84 kcal/mole as the upper limit for the activation energy

Forecasting Effusive Dynamics and Decompression Rates by Magmastatic Model at Open-vent Volcanoes

Effusive eruptions at open-conduit volcanoes are interpreted as reactions to a disequilibrium induced by the increase in magma supply. By comparing four of the most recent effusive eruptions at Stromboli volcano (Italy), we show how the volumes of lava discharged during each eruption are linearly correlated to the topographic positions of the effusive vents. This correlation cannot be explained by an excess of pressure within a deep magma chamber and raises questions about the actual contributions of deep magma dynamics. We derive a general model based on the discharge of a shallow reservoir and the magmastatic crustal load above the vent, to explain the linear link. In addition, we show how the drastic transition from effusive to violent explosions can be related to different decompression rates. We suggest that a gravity-driven model can shed light on similar cases of lateral effusive eruptions in other volcanic systems and can provide evidence of the roles of slow decompression rates in triggering violent paroxysmal explosive eruptions, which occasionally punctuate the effusive phases at basaltic volcanoes

Enhanced light-matter interaction in an atomically thin semiconductor coupled with dielectric nano-antennas

Unique structural and optical properties of atomically thin two-dimensional semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides enable in principle their efficient coupling to photonic cavities having the optical mode volume close to or below the diffraction limit. Recently, it has become possible to make all-dielectric nano-cavities with reduced mode volumes and negligible non-radiative losses. Here, we realise low-loss high-refractive-index dielectric gallium phosphide (GaP) nano-antennas with small mode volumes coupled to atomic mono- and bilayers of WSe2. We observe a photoluminescence enhancement exceeding 10(4) compared with WSe2 placed on planar GaP, and trace its origin to a combination of enhancement of the spontaneous emission rate, favourable modification of the photoluminescence directionality and enhanced optical excitation efficiency. A further effect of the coupling is observed in the photoluminescence polarisation dependence and in the Raman scattering signal enhancement exceeding 10(3). Our findings reveal dielectric nano-antennas as a promising platform for engineering light-matter coupling in two-dimensional semiconductors

Update on Prevalence of Periodontitis in Adults in the United States: NHANES 2009 to 2012

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141963/1/jper0611.pd

Ground deformation reveals the scale-invariant conduit dynamics driving explosive basaltic eruptions

The mild activity of basaltic volcanoes is punctuated by violent explosive eruptions that occur without obvious precursors. Modelling the source processes of these sudden blasts is challenging. Here, we use two decades of ground deformation (tilt) records from Stromboli volcano to shed light, with unprecedented detail, on the short-term (minute-scale) conduit processes that drive such violent volcanic eruptions. We find that explosive eruptions, with source parameters spanning seven orders of magnitude, all share a common pre-blast ground inflation trend. We explain this exponential inflation using a model in which pressure build-up is caused by the rapid expansion of volatile-rich magma rising from depth into a shallow (<400m) resident magma conduit. We show that the duration and amplitude of this inflation trend scales with the eruption magnitude, indicating that the explosive dynamics obey the same (scale-invariant) conduit process. This scale-invariance of pre-explosion ground deformation may usher in a new era of short-term eruption forecasting

Specific Inflammatory Stimuli Lead to Distinct Platelet Responses in Mice and Humans

INTRODUCTION: Diverse and multi-factorial processes contribute to the progression of cardiovascular disease. These processes affect cells involved in the development of this disease in varying ways, ultimately leading to atherothrombosis. The goal of our study was to compare the differential effects of specific stimuli - two bacterial infections and a Western diet - on platelet responses in ApoE-/- mice, specifically examining inflammatory function and gene expression. Results from murine studies were verified using platelets from participants of the Framingham Heart Study (FHS; n = 1819 participants). METHODS: Blood and spleen samples were collected at weeks 1 and 9 from ApoE-/- mice infected with Porphyromonas gingivalis or Chlamydia pneumoniae and from mice fed a Western diet for 9 weeks. Transcripts based on data from a Western diet in ApoE-/- mice were measured in platelet samples from FHS using high throughput qRT-PCR. RESULTS:At week 1, both bacterial infections increased circulating platelet-neutrophil aggregates. At week 9, these cells individually localized to the spleen, while Western diet resulted in increased platelet-neutrophil aggregates in the spleen only. Microarray analysis of platelet RNA from infected or Western diet-fed mice at week 1 and 9 showed differential profiles. Genes, such as Serpina1a, Ttr, Fgg, Rpl21, and Alb, were uniquely affected by infection and diet. Results were reinforced in platelets obtained from participants of the FHS. CONCLUSION: Using both human studies and animal models, results demonstrate that variable sources of inflammatory stimuli have the ability to influence the platelet phenotype in distinct ways, indicative of the diverse function of platelets in thrombosis, hemostasis, and immunity

Ground deformation reveals the scale-invariant conduit dynamics driving explosive basaltic eruptions

The mild activity of basaltic volcanoes is punctuated by violent explosive eruptions that occur without obvious precursors. Modelling the source processes of these sudden blasts is challenging. Here, we use two decades of ground deformation (tilt) records from Stromboli volcano to shed light, with unprecedented detail, on the short-term (minute-scale) conduit processes that drive such violent volcanic eruptions. We find that explosive eruptions, with source parameters spanning seven orders of magnitude, all share a common pre-blast ground inflation trend. We explain this exponential inflation using a model in which pressure build-up is caused by the rapid expansion of volatile-rich magma rising from depth into a shallow (<400 m) resident magma conduit. We show that the duration and amplitude of this inflation trend scales with the eruption magnitude, indicating that the explosive dynamics obey the same (scale-invariant) conduit process. This scale-invariance of pre-explosion ground deformation may usher in a new era of short-term eruption forecasting

THE COMPLEX INTERPLAY BETWEEN VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AND DIABETES

It has been recently highlighted the link between vitamin D and metabolic and immunological pro- cesses, which established its role as an essential component of human health preservation. Vitamin D has been defined as natural immune modulators, and through the activation of its receptors (VDRs), it regulates calcium metabolism, cellular growth, proliferation and apoptosis, and other immunological functions. In this setting, vita- min D has also been reported to influence glucose regulation via effects on insulin secretion and action. Vitamin D deficiency is strongly associated with obesity mostly due to the storage of vitamin D in adipose tissue because of its lipophilic properties. The decrease in vitamin D levels may occur through several mechanisms such as a decrease in the calcium concentration, an increase in PTH, or a direct effect of vitamin D on worsening insulin resistance and secretion, augmenting the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, retrospective analysis and observational studies demonstrated high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with type 1 diabetes and suggested a contributory role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes, specially with certain allelic variations of the VDR. Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and early childhood decreased the risk of autoimmune dia- betes and perhaps, even after the onset of diabetes, it may improve glycemic control. In addition, in subjects that are affected by a high risk of developing diabetes (impaired fasting glucose and/or glucose tolerance, possibly without obesity) vitamin D supplementation could be helpful on the prevention of type 2 diabete