Short-term microbial response after laboratory heating and ground mulching adition

Fire alters soil organic matter inducing quantitative and qualitative changes that presumably will affect post-fire soil microbial recolonisation. Several studies have evidenced marked soil organic carbon reduction after moderate and high intensity fire, which limit the total recovery of microbial biomass during years. In order to evaluate the role of soil organic matter alteration in short-term microbial colonization process, we perform a preliminary experiment where unaltered soil from Sierra Nevada Natural Park was heated at 300 ºC during 20 minutes in a muffle furnace (H300) to simulate a medium-high intensity fire. After heating, soil samples were inoculated with unaltered fresh soil, rewetted at 55-65% of water holding capacity and incubated during 3 weeks. At the same time, unheated soil samples were incubated under the same conditions as control (UH). In addition, trying to partially alleviate soil organic matter fire-induced alterations effects on microbial colonization, we include an organic amendment treatment (M+). So, part of heated and unheated samples were amended with a mix of ground alfalfa:straw (1:1) and soil microbial abundance and activity were monitored together with soil organic matter changes. Heating process reduces total organic carbon content. After one week of incubation carbon content in heated samples was lower than the control one, in both, amended and un-amended samples. Microbial biomass and respiration were negatively affected by heating. Ground mulching addition increase microbial biomass and respiration but was not enough to reach control values during the whole study. Nevertheless, viable and cultivable fungi and bacteria showed different pattern. After two weeks of incubation both, fungi and bacteria were higher in heated samples. Ground mulching addition appears to stimulate fungal response in both, heated and unheated samples. Preliminary results of this experiment evidence the transcendence of soil organic matter fire-induced changes on microbial colonization process and the importance to determine several microbial parameters to obtain a more faithful conclusion about microbial response. The organic amendment appears to alleviate partially heated-induced damage, highlighting the positive stimulation on fungal abundance in both, heated and unheated samples.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CGL2013-47862-C2-1- RMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad CGL2012-38655-C04-0

Planted or Natural Pine Forests, Which One Will Better Recover after Drought? Insights from Tree Growth and Stable C and H Isotopes

Increasing intensity and frequency of droughts are leading to forest dieback, growth decline and tree mortality worldwide. Reducing tree-to-tree competition for water resources is a primary goal for adaptive climate silviculture strategies, particularly in reforested areas with high planting density. Yet, we need better insights into the role of stand type (i.e., natural forests versus plantations) on the resilience of pine forests to droughts across varying time scales. In this study, we combined dendrochronological data and stable C (δ13C) and H (δ2H) isotopes measured in tree-ring wood as well as in specific wood chromatographically isolated compounds to investigate contrasting responses to drought of natural versus planted stands of two representative pine species, i.e., Pinus pinaster and Pinus nigra in southeastern Europe. Natural stands exhibited about two-fold increase in tree-ring growth in average (basal area at 20 years-BAI20) as compared to planted stands. A response function analysis showed contrasting seasonal growth patterns for both species, which were related to monthly mean temperature and precipitation. Both stand type and species variables influenced growth resilience indices. Both pine species revealed contrasting resilience patterns among forest types; whereas planted stands seemed to be less sensitive to yearly droughts as determined by a higher recovery index (CRc) for P. pinaster, the contrary was found in the case of P. nigra. On the other hand, while resistance CRT and resilience CRS indices were higher for planted than natural forests in the case of P. pinaster, little differences were found for P. nigra. Beyond comparisons, carbon stable isotopes shed lights on the role of forest types in dry sites, being δ13C consistently lower in natural than in planted forests for both pine species (p < 0.05). We concluded that planted forest assimilated more carbon as per unit of water used than natural stands in response to droughts. Both δ13C and δ2H isotopic signals were positively correlated for both species for planted forests. However, a lack of correlation was evidenced for natural stands. Consistent with δ13C observations, δ2H concentrations in woody phenolic compounds (guaiacol and oleic acid) revealed contrasting patterns among forest types. This puts forward that δ2H concentrations in woody phenolic compounds (rather than in woody tree ring) accounts for other confounding factors in tree ring formation that can be associated with forest type. Our results highlight the value of stable isotope approaches versus conventional dendrochronological tools in drought studies and call for the consideration of forest type as an endogenous aspect defining the vulnerability of pine forests to climate

Detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core-specific antibody suggests occult HCV infection among blood donors

Background: Blood transfusion safety is based on reliable donor screening for transmissible infections such as the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Study design and methods: A novel HCV core-specific antibody was assayed on random single donations from 2007 first-time blood donors who tested negative for anti-HCV and HCV RNA on routine screening. Sample collection broke the code between donations and donors for ethical reasons. Results: Forty-two donations (2.1%) displayed reactivity in the novel test. The specificity of the reactivity was evaluated by a peptide inhibition assay, and testing against additional nonoverlapping HCV core peptide epitopes and other HCV antigens was performed on these samples. Six donations (14.3%; 0.30% from the total) were considered to contain anti-HCV after such supplemental testing. HCV RNA detection was also performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) and serum or plasma samples from reactive donors after virus concentration by ultracentrifugation. HCV RNA tested negative in all PBMNCs samples, and a very low amount of viral genome was detected in serum or plasma concentrates from three anti-HCV core-reactive donors (7.1%) but not among concentrates from 100 randomly selected nonreactive donors. Sequencing of these polymerase chain reaction products revealed differences between the isolates that excluded partially sample contamination from a common source. Conclusion: These findings argue in favor of an ongoing occult HCV infection among these blood donors and account for some rather low, but perhaps not negligible, infection risk for such donations. Future studies involving larger samples of donations from traceable donors would enlighten the significance of these findings for the viral safety of the blood supply.This work was supported by research grants from DIATERS.A., Madrid, Spain.S

Variation in Nicotine Metabolization According to Biological Factors and Type of Nicotine Consumer

This study aims to describe the nicotine metabolite ratio among tobacco smokers and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) users and nonusers. We analyzed pooled data from a longitudinal and a cross-sectional study of the adult population from the city of Barcelona. The final sample included information on 166 smokers, 164 e-cigarettes users with nicotine, 41 e-cigarette users without nicotine, 95 dual users (users of both products), and 508 nonusers. We used log-linear models to control for the potential confounding effect of the daily number of cigarettes smoked. Salivary nicotine metabolic rate assessment included the rate of nicotine metabolism (cotinine/nicotine) and the nicotine metabolite ratio (trans-3′-hydroxycotinine/cotinine). Exclusive users of e-cigarette without nicotine have the lowest rate of nicotine metabolism (Geometric mean: 0.08, p-values < 0.001) while cigarette smokers have the highest (Geometric mean: 2.08, p-values < 0.001). Nonusers have lower nicotine metabolic rate than cigarette smokers (Geometric means: 0.23 vs. 0.18, p-value < 0.05). Younger individuals (18–44 years) have a higher rate of nicotine metabolism than older individuals (45–64 years and 65–89) (Geometric means: 0.53 vs. 0.42 and 0.31, respectively, p-values < 0.01) and individuals with lower body mass index (21–25 kg/m2) have a higher rate of nicotine metabolism than the rest (26–30 kg/m2 and 31–60 kg/m2) (Geometric means: 0.52 vs. 0.35 and 0.36, respectively-values < 0.01). Nicotine metabolic rates are useful biomarkers when reporting smoking status and biological differences between individuals

Drug Repurposing for Cancers With Limited Survival: Protocol for a Retrospective Cohort Study

Only 5% of the molecules tested in oncology phase 1 trials reach the market after an average of 7.5 years of waiting and at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. To reduce the cost and shorten the time of discovery of new treatments, drug repurposing (research with molecules already approved for another indication) and the use of secondary data (not collected for the purpose of research) have been proposed. Due to advances in informatics in clinical care, secondary data can, in some cases, be of equal quality to primary data generated through prospective studies.Objective: The objective of this study is to identify drugs currently marketed for other indications that may have an effect on the prognosis of patients with cancer.Methods: We plan to monitor a cohort of patients with high-lethality cancers treated in the public health system of Catalonia between 2006 and 2012, retrospectively, for survival for 5 years after diagnosis or until death. A control cohort, comprising people without cancer, will also be retrospectively monitored for 5 years. The following study variables will be extracted from different population databases: type of cancer (patients with cancer cohort), date and cause of death, pharmacological treatment, sex, age, and place of residence. During the first stage of statistical analysis of the patients with cancer cohort, the drugs consumed by the long-term survivors (alive at 5 years) will be compared with those consumed by nonsurvivors. In the second stage, the survival associated with the consumption of each relevant drug will be analyzed. For the analyses, groups will be matched for potentially confounding variables, and multivariate analyses will be performed to adjust for residual confounding variables if necessary. The control cohort will be used to verify whether the associations found are exclusive to patients with cancer or whether they also occur in patients without cancer.Results: We anticipate discovering multiple significant associations between commonly used drugs and the survival outcomes of patients with cancer. We expect to publish the initial results in the first half of 2024.Conclusions: This retrospective study may identify several commonly used drugs as candidates for repurposing in the treatment of various cancers. All analyses are considered exploratory; therefore, the results will have to be confirmed in subsequent clinical trials. However, the results of this study may accelerate drug discovery in oncology

Camellia japonica: a phytochemical perspective and current applications facing its industrial exploitation

In response to the increased popularity of medicinal plants, a number of conservation groups are recommending the investigation on poorly characterized and widely distributed species, as it is the case of camellias. In particular, Camellia japonica L. is a widespread species found in Galicia (NW Spain), where it has been largely exploited with ornamental purposes. Recent findings on its phytochemical characterization showed thousands of bioactive ingredients, mostly represented by phenolic compounds, together with terpenoids, and fatty acids. These molecules present associated biological activities, acting as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer agents. This review is aimed at describing the main bioactive compounds of C. japonica, as well as the health-enhancing properties attributed to this medicinal plant. Novel strategies are needed to implement an efficient industrialization process for C. japonica, ranging from small-scale approaches to the establishment of large plantations, thus involving important sectors, such as the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.The research leading to these results was supported by MICINN supporting the Ram´on y Cajal grant for M.A. Prieto (RYC-2017-22891) and and the Juan de la Cierva Incorporaci´on Hui Cao (IJC2020-046055- I); by Xunta de Galicia for supporting the pre-doctoral grant of A.G. Pereira (ED481A-2019/0228); by European Union that supports the work of P. Garcia-Perez through the “Margarita Salas” grant from the “NextGenerationEU” program.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

TELMA: Entorno de formación personalizada online en Cirugía de Mínima Invasión

TELMA es un entorno de formación y aprendizaje online basado en edición de vídeo laparoscópico, la gestión del conocimiento y el trabajo colaborativo con el fin de mejorar la efectividad y eficacia de los procesos de formación (inicial y continuada) de los cirujanos de Cirugía de Mínima Invasión (CMI). TELMA explota el uso del vídeo laparoscópico como el núcleo de los contenidos didácticos y hace uso de tecnologías de formación online y gestión de contenidos digitales multimedia, para mejorar la adaptación, calidad y eficiencia del servicio ofrecido al usuario. TELMA persigue acortar las curvas de aprendizaje, proporcionando a los cirujanos un acceso ubicuo a contenidos educativos y metodologías didácticas, dotando al aprendizaje de mayor interactividad y proporcionando a los alumnos un papel más activo, una mejor adquisición de los conocimientos y habilidades y un mayor uso de las fuentes de información disponibles

Efficacy of Manual Therapy on Facilitatory Nociception and Endogenous Pain Modulation in Older Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Case Series.

Background: manual therapy (MT) has been shown to have positive effects in patients with osteoarthritis (OA)-related pain, and its use in clinical settings is recommended. However, the mechanisms of action for how these positive effects occur are not yet well understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of MT treatment on facilitatory nociception and endogenous pain modulation in patients with knee OA related pain. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with knee OA were included in this study. Pain intensity using the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), temporal summation (TS), conditioned pain modulation (CPM), and local (knee) and distant (elbow) hyperalgesia through the pressure pain threshold (PPT), were assessed to evaluate the pain modulatory system. Patients underwent four sessions of MT treatments within 3 weeks and were evaluated at the baseline, after the first session and after the fourth session. Results: the MT treatment reduced knee pain after the first session (p = 0.03) and after the fourth session (p = 0.04). TS decreased significantly after the fourth session of MT (p = 0.02), while a significant increase in the CPM assessment was detected after the fourth session (p = 0.05). No significant changes in the PPT over the knee and elbow were found in the follow-ups. Conclusions: The results from our study suggest that MT might be an effective and safe method for improving pain and for decreasing temporal summation.post-print502 K

Machine learning methods applied to combined Raman and LIBS spectra: Implications for mineral discrimination in planetary missions

Producción CientíficaThe combined analysis of geological targets by complementary spectroscopic techniques could enhance the characterization of the mineral phases found on Mars. This is indeed the case with the SuperCam instrument onboard the Perseverance rover. In this framework, the present study seeks to evaluate and compare multiple machine learning techniques for the characterization of carbonate minerals based on Raman-LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) spectroscopic data. To do so, a Ca-Mg prediction curve was created by mixing hydromagnesite and calcite at different concentration ratios. After their characterization by Raman and LIBS spectroscopy, different multivariable machine learning (Gaussian process regression, support vector machines, ensembles of trees, and artificial neural networks) were used to predict the concentration ratio of each sample from their respective datasets. The results obtained by separately analyzing Raman and LIBS data were then compared to those obtained by combining them. By comparing their performance, this work demonstrates that mineral discrimination based on Gaussian and ensemble methods optimized the combine of Raman-LIBS dataset outperformed those ensured by Raman and LIBS data alone. This demonstrated that the fusion of data combination and machine learning is a promising approach to optimize the analysis of spectroscopic data returned from Mars.Agencia Estatal de Investigación, grant (PID2022-142490OB-C32)Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO),Grant/Award Number (RDE2018-102600-T

Proyecto PREDIRCAM 2. Análisis preliminar de uso y valoración de la plataforma

En la actualidad, la prevalencia de las enfermedades no transmisibles (Non-communicable diseases NCD) y la cantidad de muertes causadas por éstas es muy elevada, en su mayoría, consecuencia del envejecimiento de la población, el aumento de la obesidad y los hábitos de vida sedentarios. En este trabajo se describen el funcionamiento y los resultados preliminares del proyecto Predircam 2, destinado al desarrollo y validación de una plataforma inteligente de tecnologías biomédicas para la monitorización, prevención y tratamiento personalizados del sobrepeso, la obesidad y la prevención de enfermedades asociadas como la diabetes, hipertensión arterial o alteraciones del metabolismo lipídico. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar los resultados preliminares del análisis del uso de la plataforma, la evaluación de la usabilidad y la valoración de la atención recibida por los pacientes en relación a los profesionales sanitarios