Molecular Line Emission from Accretion Disks Around YSOs

In this work we model the expected molecular emission from protoplanetary disks, modifying different physical parameters, such as dust grain size, mass accretion rate, viscosity, and disk radius, to obtain observational signatures in these sources. Having in mind possible future observations, we study correlations between physical parameters and observational characteristics. Our aim is to determine the kind of observations that will allow us to extract information about the physical parameters of disks. We also present prospects for molecular line observations of protoplanetary disks, using millimeter and submillimeter interferometers (e.g., SMA or ALMA), based on our results.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures. Proceeding of the workshop "Magnetic fields and star formation: theory versus observation", Madrid (Spain), April 21 - 25, 200

A survey for water maser emission towards planetary nebulae. New detection in IRAS 17347-3139

We report on a water maser survey towards a sample of 27 planetary nebulae (PNe) using the Robledo de Chavela and Medicina single-dish antennas, as well as the Very Large Array (VLA). Two detections have been obtained: the already known water maser emission in K 3-35, and a new cluster of masers in IRAS 17347-3139. This low rate of detections is compatible with the short life-time of water molecules in PNe (~100 yr). The water maser cluster at IRAS 17347-3139 are distributed on a ellipse of size ~ 0.2" x 0.1", spatially associated with compact 1.3 cm continuum emission (simultaneously observed with the VLA). From archive VLA continuum data at 4.9, 8.4, and 14.9 GHz, a spectral index alpha = 0.76 +- 0.03 is derived for this radio source, which is consistent with either a partially optically thick ionized region or with an ionized wind. However, the latter scenario can be ruled out on mass-loss considerations, thus indicating that this source is probably a young PN. The spatial distribution and the radial velocities of the water masers are suggestive of a rotating and expanding maser ring, tracing the innermost regions of a torus formed at the end of the AGB phase. Given that the 1.3 cm continuum emission peak is located near one of the tips of the major axis of the ellipse of masers, we speculate on a possible binary nature of IRAS 17347-3139, where the radio continuum emission could belong to one of the components and the water masers would be associated with a companion.Comment: Accepted by The Astrophysical Journal. 25 pages, 6 figure

Economic evaluation of percutaneous cryoablation vs conventional surgery in extra-abdominal desmoid tumours in the Spanish healthcare system

BackgroundDesmoid tumours (DTs) or deep fibromatosis are benign soft-tissue tumours, sometimes locally aggressive, requiring intervention on some cases. Surgery has been the gold standard, but new less invasive techniques such as percutaneous cryoablation have proved their effectiveness, reducing health resources and complications. The study aimed to compare the total cost of percutaneous cryoablation and conventional surgery for patients with extra-abdominal and/or abdominal wall DTs, candidates for local ablative treatment in Spain.MethodsA cost-analysis model was developed. An expert panel provided data about resource consumption for the percutaneous cryoablation technique and validated the epidemiology used for target population estimation. Unitary resources cost (euro 2022) derived from local cost databases. A retrospective analysis of 54 surgical cases in 3 Spanish hospitals was performed to estimate the cost of conventional surgery based on the cost of the Diagnosis-Related group (DRG) codes identified on this patient sample, weighted by each DRG proportion. The total cost for each alternative included intervention cost and complications cost, considering debridement required in 4.5% of cases with percutaneous cryoablation and minor surgery for surgical site infection in 18.0% for conventional surgery.ResultsThe total cost for percutaneous cryoablation (euro 5774.78/patient-year) was lower than the total cost for conventional surgery (euro 6780.98/patient-year), yielding cost savings up to euro 80,002 in 1 year for the entire cohort of 80 patients with DTs eligible for intervention estimated in Spain. One-way sensitivity analyses confirmed the results' robustness.ConclusionPercutaneous cryoablation versus conventional surgery would yield cost savings for the management of DT patients in Spain.Critical relevance statementThis manuscript provides insight into the economic impact derived from the savings related to the use of percutaneous cryoablation for desmoid-type tumours from the perspective of the Spanish National Healthcare System, providing useful information for the health decision-making process.Key points center dot Desmoid tumours are locally aggressive and may require local therapy.center dot Percutaneous cryoablation procedure is less invasive than the conventional surgery.center dot Cost comparison shows savings associated to percutaneous cryoablation use.Key points center dot Desmoid tumours are locally aggressive and may require local therapy.center dot Percutaneous cryoablation procedure is less invasive than the conventional surgery.center dot Cost comparison shows savings associated to percutaneous cryoablation use.Key points center dot Desmoid tumours are locally aggressive and may require local therapy.center dot Percutaneous cryoablation procedure is less invasive than the conventional surgery.center dot Cost comparison shows savings associated to percutaneous cryoablation use

A dual epigenomic approach for the search of obesity biomarkers: DNA methylation in relation to diet-induced weight loss

Epigenetics could help to explain individual differences in weight loss after an energy-restriction intervention. Here, we identify novel potential epigenetic biomarkers of weight loss, comparing DNA methylation patterns of high and low responders to a hypocaloric diet. Twenty-five overweight or obese men participated in an 8-wk caloric restriction intervention. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and treated with bisulfite. The basal and endpoint epigenetic differences between high and low responders were analyzed by methylation microarray, which was also useful in comparing epigenetic changes due to the nutrition intervention. Subsequently, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was used to validate several relevant CpGs and the surrounding regions. DNA methylation levels in several CpGs located in the ATP10A and CD44 genes showed statistical baseline differences depending on the weight-loss outcome. At the treatment endpoint, DNA methylation levels of several CpGs on the WT1 promoter were statistically more methylated in the high than in the low responders. Finally, different CpG sites from WT1 and ATP10A were significantly modified as a result of the intervention. In summary, hypocaloric-diet-induced weight loss in humans could alter DNA methylation status of specific genes. Moreover, baseline DNA methylation patterns may be used as epigenetic markers that could help to predict weight loss

Propensity score matched comparison of transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus conventional surgery in intermediate and low risk aortic stenosis patients: A hint of real-world

Background: Recently, the use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in inter­mediate-low risk patients has been evaluated in the PARTNER II randomized trial. However, in the last years, this therapy has been employed in this scenario with underreported results, as compared to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Methods: We enrolled 362 consecutive patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and intermediate-low surgical risk (logEuroSCORE < 20%), treated in our center with TAVI (103 patients) or single SAVR (259 patients) between 2009 and 2014. Patients were matched according to age, gender, logEuroSCORE, and use of bioprosthesis. Results: Mean age of the patients was 73 ± 10.4 years, and 40.3% were women. LogEuroSCORE and Society Thoracic Surgeons score were 7.0 ± 4.4% and 4.2 ± 2.5%, respectively, with mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 52 ± 9%. There were no differences regarding other comorbidities. The length-of-hospitalization was 11 ± 5 days after TAVI vs. 17 ± 9 days after SAVR (p = 0.003). After matched comparison, no differences in terms of in-hospital mortality (5.7% after TAVI vs. 2.9% after SAVR, p = 0.687) and 1-year mortality (11.4% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.381) were found. The combined endpoint of stroke and mortality at 1-year was also similar between both groups (15.7% in TAVI patients vs. 14.4% after SAVR, p = 0.136). Multivariate analysis determined that aortic regurgitation (AR) was an independent predictor of mortality (OR = 3.623, 95% CI: 1.267–10.358, p = 0.016). Although the rate of AR was higher after TAVI, none of the patients treated with the newest generation devices (10.7%) presented more than a mild degree of AR. Conclusions: TAVI is feasible and shows comparable results to surgery in terms of early, 1-year mortality, as well as cerebrovascular events in patients with severe aortic stenosis and intermediate-low operative risk. Better transvalvular gradients, yet higher rates of AR were found, however, newer devices presented comparable rate of AR.

High-Resolution Molecular Line Observations of the Environment of the Class 0 Source B1-IRS

In this work we present VLA observations of the NH3, CCS, and H2O maser emission at 1 cm from the star forming region B1-IRS (IRAS 03301+3057) with ~ 5" (=1750 AU) of angular resolution. CCS emission is distributed in three clumps around the central source. These clumps exhibit a velocity gradient from red- to blueshifted velocities toward B1-IRS, probably due to an interaction with the outflow from an embedded protostar. The outflow and its powering source are traced by a reflection nebula and an associated infrared point source detected in a 2MASS K-band image. We find that this infrared point source is associated with water maser emission distributed in an elongated structure (~ 450 AU size) along the major axis of the reflection nebula and tracing the base of the outflow of the region. Ammonia emission is extended and spatially anticorrelated with CCS. This is the first time that this kind of anticorrelation is observed in a star forming region with such a high angular resolution, and illustrates the importance of time-dependent chemistry on small spatial scales. The relatively large abundance of CCS with respect to ammonia, compared with other star forming regions, suggests an extreme youth for the B1-IRS object (<10E+5 yr). We suggest the possibility that CCS abundance is enhanced via shock-induced chemistry.Comment: 31 pages, 9 figures. Accepted by The Astrophysical Journa

Genome-wide meta-analysis for Alzheimer's disease cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers

Amyloid-beta 42 (A?42) and phosphorylated tau (pTau) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) reflect core features of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) more directly than clinical diagnosis. Initiated by the European Alzheimer & Dementia Biobank (EADB), the largest collaborative effort on genetics underlying CSF biomarkers was established, including 31 cohorts with a total of 13,116 individuals (discovery n = 8074; replication n = 5042 individuals). Besides the APOE locus, novel associations with two other well-established AD risk loci were observed; CR1 was shown a locus for A?42 and BIN1 for pTau. GMNC and C16orf95 were further identified as loci for pTau, of which the latter is novel. Clustering methods exploring the influence of all known AD risk loci on the CSF protein levels, revealed 4 biological categories suggesting multiple A?42 and pTau related biological pathways involved in the etiology of AD. In functional follow-up analyses, GMNC and C16orf95 both associated with lateral ventricular volume, implying an overlap in genetic etiology for tau levels and brain ventricular volume

Immune biomarkers to predict SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effectiveness in patients with hematological malignancies

There is evidence of reduced SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effectiveness in patients with hematological malignancies. We hypothesized that tumor and treatment-related immunosuppression can be depicted in peripheral blood, and that immune profiling prior to vaccination can help predict immunogenicity. We performed a comprehensive immunological characterization of 83 hematological patients before vaccination and measured IgM, IgG, and IgA antibody response to four viral antigens at day +7 after second-dose COVID-19 vaccination using multidimensional and computational flow cytometry. Health care practitioners of similar age were the control group (n = 102). Forty-four out of 59 immune cell types were significantly altered in patients; those with monoclonal gammopathies showed greater immunosuppression than patients with B-cell disorders and Hodgkin lymphoma. Immune dysregulation emerged before treatment, peaked while on-therapy, and did not return to normalcy after stopping treatment. We identified an immunotype that was significantly associated with poor antibody response and uncovered that the frequency of neutrophils, classical monocytes, CD4, and CD8 effector memory CD127low T cells, as well as naive CD21+ and IgM+D+ memory B cells, were independently associated with immunogenicity. Thus, we provide novel immune biomarkers to predict COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in hematological patients, which are complementary to treatment-related factors and may help tailoring possible vaccine boosters

Predictors of adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet in the PREDIMED trial.

BACKGROUND: Determinants of dietary changes obtained with a nutritional intervention promoting the Mediterranean diet have been rarely evaluated. AIM: To identify predictors of higher success of an intervention aimed to increase adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MeDiet) in individuals at high cardiovascular risk participating in a trial for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: the PREDIMED (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea) trial. Candidate predictors included demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, and baseline dietary habits. METHODS: A total of 1,048 asymptomatic subjects aged 55-80 years allocated to the active intervention groups (subjects in the control group were excluded). Participants' characteristics were assessed at baseline among subjects. Dietary changes were evaluated after 12 months. Main outcome measures were: attained changes in five dietary goals: increases in (1) fruit consumption, (2) vegetable consumption, (3) monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA)/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio, and decreases in (4) sweets and pastries consumption, (5) and meat consumption. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between the candidate predictors and likelihood of attaining optimum dietary change (improved adherence to a MeDiet). RESULTS: Among men, positive changes toward better compliance with the MeDiet were more frequent among non-diabetics, and among those with worse dietary habits at baseline (higher consumption of meat, higher SFA intake, lower consumption of fruit and vegetables). Among women, marital status (married) and worse baseline dietary habits (high in meats, low in fruits and vegetables) were the strongest predictors of success in improving adherence to the MeDiet. CONCLUSIONS: Some participant characteristics (marital status and baseline dietary habits) could contribute to predicting the likelihood of achieving dietary goals in interventions aimed to improve adherence to a MeDiet, and may be useful for promoting individualized long-term dietary changes and improving the effectiveness of dietary counseling