Characterization of a bipartite medial cuneiform: micro-CT and anatomical study

A bipartite medial cuneiform is an anatomical variant consisting in a horizontal division of the bone. Previous descriptions of the joint type, obtained from archaeological material or clinical reports, are unclear. This study was conducted in a fresh-frozen left foot, which allowed studying the morphology of the ligaments after anatomical dissection. In addition a Micro-CT analysis was performed to elucidate the osseous structure supporting the articular surfaces. A complex ligamentous system was found between the two halves of the bipartite medial cuneiform. Two articular surfaces were observed between the two components. Hyaline cartilage was observed at the posterior surface, while fibrous tissue was found at the anterior surface. Micro-CT analysis revealed different osseous structures for each articular surface, thus proving the existence of two joint types. The finding of a bipartite medial cuneiform in a fresh-frozen specimen allowed us to perform an analysis of the soft-tissues and articular surfaces that shows the presence of hyaline cartilage and articular ligaments in the diarthrodial joint as well as the fibrous component of the synfibrosis. Micro-CT analysis further reinforces our morphological findings. Our results prove that two different joint types exist, which could help explaining the disparity of descriptions in the literature

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

Ecos de la academia: Revista de la Facultad de Educación, Ciencia y Tecnología - FECYT Nro 2

Ecos de la academia, Revista de la Facultad de Educación Ciencia y Tecnología es una publicación científica de la Universidad Técnica del Norte, con revisión por pares a doble ciego que publica artículos en idioma español, quichua, portugués e inglés. Se edita con una frecuencia semestral con dos números por año.En ella se divulgan trabajos originales e inéditos generados por los investigadores, docentes y estudiantes de la FECYT, y contribuciones de profesionales de instituciones docentes e investigativas dentro y fuera del país, con calidad, originalidad y relevancia en las áreas de ciencias sociales y tecnología aplicada.Relación Universidad-Sociedad en la Universidad Técnica del Norte. Estudio crítico. Seducción y erotismo en la publicidad. Estudio para la implementación de vehículos eléctricos en la ciudad de Ibarra. Determinación del perfil antropométrico en escolares del Colegio Universitario UTN de Ibarra. Una maldad desapasionada. Reflexiones etnográficas sobre dos requerimientos de las prácticas violentas en sociedades modernas: distancia y legitimación. Sociabilidad y movimientos sociales en la crisis (sistémica) capitalista. Procesos lingüísticos y factores que influyen en la adquisición del idioma inglés. “Castillos en la costa”: una pintura del paisajista romántico español Genaro Pérez Villamil en el Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana. Gestión y visibilidad de las publicaciones científicas en Ecuador. La ética en la inclusión de estudiantes con capacidades diferentes en la educación superior en Ecuador. La Universidad latinoamericana y su vinculación a la sociedad. Tisuacryl, estudio de caso sobre la innovación. Implementación del equipo de intervención psicosocial de emergencia en el Cuerpo de Bomberos de Ibarra. La opinión pública y la Televisión Universitaria-UTN. Momento político de la campaña electoral. Líneas de investigación: importancia para las instituciones de educación superior. El desarrollo de la crítica responsable en el estudiante universitario como parte de su formación ciudadana. Fábrica Imbabura. Ayer y hoy en imágenes. Patrimonio de la arquitectura religiosa de Ibarra. Un estudio histórico-artístico. Georreferenciación y reconocimiento de los sitios arqueológicos del Cantón Ibarra

Eficacia del extracto fluido de Vimang® en el tratamiento de pacientes con alveolitis

Se realizó un ensayo clínico de fase III en 118 pacientes con alveolitis, atendidos en la consulta estomatológica del Hospital General Docente "Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso" de Santiago de Cuba, para evaluar la eficacia del extracto fluido de Vimang® en el tratamiento de ellos. La muestra se dividió en 2 grupos (experimental y control), distribuidos aleatoriamente; los integrantes del primero, tratados con el mencionado extracto; y los del segundo, con Alvogyl. Los resultados del estudio fueron validados mediante el estadígrafo de Ji al cuadrado. Se concluye que el extracto fluido de Vimang® fue eficaz para eliminar la alveolitis en menor tiempo y sin reacciones adversas, por lo cual se recomendó generalizar su us

Role of proteins and soluble peptides as limiting components during the co-composting of agro-industrial wastes

The agri-food industry is at the centre of the circular economy, since the co-composting of its residual flows allows their management and adds value producing fertilisers. In this work, six composting piles were prepared combining agri-food sludge (AS), different fresh vegetable wastes (pepper waste (P), tomato waste (T), and leek waste (L), and, as bulking agents, vine shoot pruning (VS), garlic stalks (GS) and avocado leaves (AL)). Classical physico-chemical and chemical determinations and advanced instrumental methods (excitation-emission fluorescence (EEM) and gravimetric (TG, DTG and DTA) techniques) were used and compared to assess organic matter evolution and evaluate the quality of the composts obtained. The thermal profiles of the composting processes were viable to show the stabilization of the agri-food sludge with the different materials tested in the mixtures, reaching adequate levels of stabilization of organic matter. Preferential degradation of peptides and proteins was observed by fluorescence. This seemed to induce a limitation in the biodegradation of the remaining organic matter, indicating that these biomolecules are key in composting dynamics, acting as limiting components during the process. The results from thermogravimetric analysis indicated the degradation of labile compounds (e.g., carbohydrates and proteins), the most recalcitrant material becoming predominant at the maturity stage of the composting process. The rise in the thermogravimetric parameter R2 was associated with the increase in the concentration of more refracting compounds, which need more energy for their decomposition.This work has been co-financed by the bioREFINA project (Biorefinery of fertilizer products for self-consumption in fruit and vegetable farms. BioREFINA, ITC-20161161), which is led by the company Sistema Azud, SA, through the FEDER INNTERCONECTA Program, State Research Program, Development and Innovation Oriented to the Challenges of the Society, within the framework of the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2013–2016 (MICINN, Spain). We also thank the collaboration of the company Miguel García Sánchez e Hijos, S.L

Therapeutic variability in infants admitted to Latin-American pediatric intensive units due to acute bronchiolitis

Objetivo: describir las terapias utilizadas en lactantes con bronquiolitis aguda admitidos en 20 Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) pediátricos miembros de LARed en 5 países latinoamericanos. Pacientes y Método: Estudio observacional retrospectivo, multicéntrico, de datos del Registro Latinoamericano de Falla Respiratoria Aguda Pediátrica. Se incluyeron niños menores de 2 años ingresados a UCI pediátrica por bronquiolitis aguda comunitaria entre mayo-septiembre 2017. Se recolectaron datos demográficos, clínicos, soporte respiratorio, terapias utilizadas y resultados clínicos. Se realizó análisis de subgrupos según ubicación geográfica, tipo financiación y presencia de academia. Resultados: Ingresaron al registro 1155 pacientes con falla respiratoria aguda. Seis casos fueron excluidos por no tener formulario completo. De los 1147 pacientes, 908 eran menores de 2 años. De ellos, 467 tuvieron diagnóstico de bronquiolitis aguda, correspondiendo a la principal causa de ingreso a UCI pediátrica por falla respiratoria aguda (51,4%). Las características demográficas y de gravedad entre los centros fueron similares. El soporte máximo respiratorio más frecuente fue cánula nasal de alto flujo (47%), seguido por ventilación mecánica no invasiva (26%) y ventilación mecánica invasiva (17%), con un coeficiente de variación (CV) amplio entre los centros. Hubo una gran dispersión en uso de terapias, siendo frecuente el uso de broncodilatadores, antibióticos y corticoides, con CV hasta 400%. El análisis de subgrupos mostró diferencias significativas en soporte respiratorio y tratamientos utilizados. Un paciente falleció en esta cohorte. Conclusión: Detectamos gran variabilidad en el soporte respiratorio y tratamientos entre UCI pediátricas latinoamericanas. Esta variabilidad no es explicada por disparidades demográficas ni clínicas. Esta heterogeneidad de tratamientos debería promover iniciativas colaborativas para disminuir la brecha entre la evidencia científica y la práctica asistencial.The objective of this study was to describe the management of infants with acute bronchiolitis admitted to 20 pediatric intensive care units (PICU) members of LARed in 5 Latin American countries. Patients and Method: Retrospective, multicenter, observational study of data from the Latin American Registry of Acute Pediatric Respiratory Failure. We included children under 2 years of age admitted to the PICU due to community-based acute bronchiolitis between May and September 2017. Demographic and clinical data, respiratory support, therapies used, and clinical results were collected. A subgroup analysis was carried out according to geographical location (Atlantic v/s Pacific), type of insurance (Public v/s Private), and Academic v/s non-Academic centers. Results: 1,155 patients were included in the registry which present acute respiratory failure and 6 were excluded due to the lack of information in their record form. Out of the 1,147 patients, 908 were under 2 years of age, and out of those, 467 (51.4%) were diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis, which was the main cause of admission to the PICU due to acute respiratory failure. The demographic and severity characteristics among the centers were similar. The most frequent maximum ventilatory support was the high-flow nasal cannula (47%), followed by non-invasive ventilation (26%) and invasive mechanical ventilation (17%), with a wide coefficient of variation (CV) between centers. There was a great dispersion in the use of treatments, where the use of bronchodilators, antibiotics, and corticosteroids, representing a CV up to 400%. There were significant differences in subgroup analysis regarding respiratory support and treatments used. One patient of this cohort passed away. Conclusion: we detected wide variability in respiratory support and treatments among Latin American PICUs. This variability was not explained by demographic or clinical differences. The heterogeneity of treatments should encourage collaborative initiatives to reduce the gap between scientific evidence and practice

Challenge 2: Advanced Photonics

Coordinators: Miguel Cornelles Soriano, Javier Aizpurua Iriazabal.Photonic technologies provide key enabling components for the future digital transformation. This section includes an in-depth overview of the challenges that advanced photonics faces in the coming years in order to become a truly disruptive technology. Based on the expertise of numerous CSIC researchers, relevant key challenging points are identified, which range from the exploration of novel materials to the deployment of complex networks, including the development of photonic integrated circuits and devices.Peer reviewe