Implementation of an Artificial Neural Network on the Test Barcelona Workstation As a Predictive Model for the Classification of Normal, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease Subjects Using the Neuronorma Battery

Objective: To develop and implement an online Artificial Neural Network (ANN) that provides the probability of a subject having mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Method: Different ANNs were trained using a sample of 350 controls (CONT), 75 MCI and 93 AD subjects. The ANN structure chosen was the following: (1) an input layer of 33 cognitive variables from the Neuronorma battery plus two sociodemographic variables, age and education. This layer was reduced to a 15 features input vector using Multiple Discriminant Analysis method, (2) one hidden layer with 8 neurons, and (3) three output neurons corresponding to the 3 expected cognitive states. This ANN was defined in a previous study [28]. The ANN was implemented on the web site www.test-barcelona.com (Test Barcelona Workstation) [9]. Results: When comparing CONT, MCI and AD participants, the best ANN correctly classifies up to 94,87% of the study participants. Conclusions: The online implemented ANN, delivers the probabilities (%) of belonging to the CONT, MCI and AD groups of a subject assessed using the 35 characteristics (variables) of the Neuronorma profile. This tool is a good complement for the interpretation of cognitive profiles. This technology improves clinical decision making. Keywords: Artificial Neural Network, Probability, Alzheimer disease, Test Barcelona Workstation

Eficacia de la insuflación con dióxido de carbono en enteroscopia de un solo balón para determinar profundidad de intubación y dolor posprocedimiento en pacientes referidos para evaluación del intestino delgado

ResumenIntroducciónLa intubación profunda del intestino delgado es limitada por la distensión debido a la insuflación con aire durante el procedimiento. El dióxido de carbono (CO2) es rápidamente absorbido de la luz intestinal previniendo la distensión abdominal.ObjetivoComparar el efecto de la insuflación con CO2 y aire en la intubación profunda durante enteroscopia de un solo balón (ESB) y dolor posprocedimiento.DiseñoEstudio descriptivo de las series de casos y comparación de los resultados de sus variables, en un hospital terciario.Pacientes y métodosCiento cuarenta y siete ESB fueron realizadas en 130 pacientes con sospecha de enfermedad del intestino delgado usando insuflación con CO2 en 65 procedimientos y 82 con aire. Enteroscopio Olympus SIF 180-Q y bomba CO2 UCR Olympus fueron usados. Intubación profunda fue medida usando una escala validada. El dolor fue evaluado post-ESB y a las 12 h.ResultadosCiento cuarenta y siete ESB fueron realizadas en 130 pacientes con una media de intubación en el grupo CO2 significativamente mayor que en el grupo aire (p = 0.008). Noventa y cinco ESB anterógrada y 52 ESB retrógrada fueron realizadas con una media de intubación significativamente mayor en el grupo CO2 (p = 0.035 y p= 0.004, respectivamente). El dolor fue significativamente menor en el grupo CO.LimitacionesDiseño descriptivo de dos series de casos.ConclusiónInsuflación con CO2 mejora significativamente la profundidad de intubación en ESB y reduce el dolor abdominal.AbstractIntroductionThe intubation depth of the small bowel is limited by distention due to air insufflation during the procedure. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is rapidly absorbed from the bowel lumen and prevents distention of abdomen.ObjectiveA comparison was made between the effects of CO2 and air insufflations on the intubation depth during single balloon enteroscopy (SBE), as well as post-procedure pain.DesignDescriptive case series study and comparison of the results in a tertiary care hospital.Patients and methodsA total of 147 SBE procedures were performed on 130 patients with suspected small bowel disease using CO2 insufflation in 65 procedures, and air insufflation in 82. Enteroscopy was performed using an Olympus SIF 180-Q and a UCR CO2 pump. Intubation depth was recorded using a validated form, and pos-procedure pain immediately after SBE and 12 hours later were evaluated.ResultsA total of 147 SBE procedures were performed on 130 patients with a mean small bowel intubation depth in the CO2 group significantly larger than the air group (p=.008). An oral approach was used in 95 procedures, and anal in 52 procedureswith a mean intubation depth significantly larger in the CO2 group (p=.035 and p=.004, respectively). Patient pain was significantly reduced in the CO2 group.LimitationsDescriptive study of two case series.ConclusionCO2 insufflation significantly improves intubation depth in SBE and reduces abdominal pain

Antifungal ativity against Botryosphaeriaceae fungi of the hydro-methanolic extract of Silybum marianum capitula conjugated with stevioside

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn, viz. milk thistle, has been the focus of research efforts in the past few years, albeit almost exclusively restricted to the medicinal properties of its fruits (achenes). Given that other milk thistle plant organs and tissues have been scarcely investigated for the presence of bioactive compounds, in this study, we present a phytochemical analysis of the extracts of S. marianum capitula during the flowering phenological stage (stage 67). Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy results evidenced the presence of high contents of coniferyl alcohol (47.4%), and secondarily of ferulic acid ester, opening a new valorization strategy of this plant based on the former high-added-value component. Moreover, the application of the hydro-methanolic extracts as an antifungal agent has been also explored. Specifically, their activity against three fungal species responsible for the so-called Botryosphaeria dieback of grapevine (Neofusicoccum parvum, Dothiorella viticola and Diplodia seriata) has been assayed both in vitro and in vivo. From the mycelial growth inhibition assays, the best results (EC90 values of 303, 366, and 355 μg·mL−1 for N. parvum, D. viticola, and D. seriata, respectively) were not obtained for the hydroalcoholic extract alone, but after its conjugation with stevioside, which resulted in a strong synergistic behavior. Greenhouse experiments confirmed the efficacy of the conjugated complexes, pointing to the potential of the combination of milk thistle extracts with stevioside as a promising plant protection product in organic Viticulture

Books, trade and sculpture. The life and workshop of Pérez Dónis according to his testament. "El Cristo de la Misericordia": medical report and restoration

El artículo estudia la obra y el taller del escultor lagunero Domingo Pérez Dónis partiendo de su testamento. El estudio se complementa con los informes médico-forenses que los doctores J.F. Reyes Rodríguez y Sonia González-Casanova González realizaron a la escultura del Cristo de la Misericordia, única obra –por el momento– conocida de este imaginero, además de la información facilitada por los restauradores Silvano Acosta Jordán y Lucía Irma Pérez González, esta última responsable de la limpieza y restauración a la que fue sometida la talla en el año 2014.This paper analyzes the works and workshop of the canarian sculptor Domingo Pérez Donis, according to his testament. Two medical reports, done by Phd. J. F. Reyes Rodríguez and Phd. Sonia González-Casanova González, complement the information provided by the last will about «El Cristo de la Misericordia», the one and only sculpture made by the artist, as we know so far. Also we had the information provided by the restorers of the work, Silvano Acosta Jordán and Lucía Irma Pérez González, who had cleaned and restored the sculpture in 2014

Adipogenesis Regulation and Endocrine Disruptors: Emerging Insights in Obesity

Indexación: Scopus.Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are defined as environmental pollutants capable of interfering with the functioning of the hormonal system. They are environmentally distributed as synthetic fertilizers, electronic waste, and several food additives that are part of the food chain. They can be considered as obesogenic compounds since they have the capacity to influence cellular events related to adipose tissue, altering lipid metabolism and adipogenesis processes. This review will present the latest scientific evidence of different EDs such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, "nonpersistent" phenolic compounds, triclosan, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and smoke-derived compounds (benzo -alpha-pyrene) and their influence on the differentiation processes towards adipocytes in both in vitro and in vivo models.https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2020/7453786/#copyrigh

Pasqual Maragall i Mira, Medalla d'Or de la Ciutat

A la coberta: Saló de Cent, 1 de juliol del 2008Inclou una selecció de discursos de Pasqual Maragal

¿Para qué física si enseñaré biología?

Se presenta una propuesta didáctica cuyo objetivo es analizar como la integración disciplinar (Física-Biología) frente a un problema cotidiano (luxaciones, fracturas, artritis, etc.) favorece al cambio de imaginarios colectivos respecto a la importancia de la Física en el Primer año del Profesorado de Biología en Institutos Superiores de Formación Docente. En su desarrollo se conjugan aspectos conceptuales (articulaciones-equilibrio), procedimentales (proceso de investigación) actitudinales (trabajo cooperativo-reflexión sobre la práctica) y se concreta con la presentación de un modelo analógico que abre espacios de análisis acerca del saber, saber indagar y saber integrar conocimientos provenientes de distintas áreas científicas y didácticas.Trabajos del área Ciencias NaturalesDepartamento de Ciencias Exactas y Naturale

Hyoscine butyl bromide useful in the management of perioperative bradycardia?

Introducción: El butilbromuro de hioscina más conocido como buscapina, ampliamente utilizado en medicina, es un antagonista muscarínico que comparte propiedades con la atropina. Objetivo: Realizar una revisión de la farmacología, mecanismo de acción, efectos sistémicos, interacciones, toxicidad y efectos secundarios del butil bromuro de hioscina para poder entender por qué puede ser útil en el manejo de bradicardia perioperatoria. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica en las principales bases de datos como PubMed, con la búsqueda de la literatura científica de acuerdo a las palabras claves definidas. Conclusiones: El butil bromuro de hioscina puede ser una opción en el manejo de bradiarritmias intraoperatorias con un rápido inicio de acción, aumento de la frecuencia cardíaca más controlado y baja penetración al sistema nervioso central.Introduction: Hyoscine butyl bromide, better known as buscapine, widely used in medicine, is a muscarinic antagonist that shares properties with atropine. Objective: To review the pharmacology, mechanism of action, systemic effects, interactions, toxicity, and side effects of hyoscine butyl bromide to understand why it may be useful in the management of perioperative bradycardia. Materials and Methods: A bibliographic review was carried out in the main databases with the search of the scientific literature according to the key words defined. Conclusions: Butyl bromide hyoscine may be an option in the management of intraoperative bradyarrhythmias with a rapid onset of action, more controlled increased heart rate and low penetration to the central nervous system

Ischemic aetiology, self-reported frailty, and gender with respect to cognitive impairment in chronic heart failure patients

Background: decisive information on the parameters involved in cognitive impairment in patients with chronic heart failure is as yet lacking. Our aim was to determine the functional and psychosocial variables related with cognitive impairment using the mini-mental-state examination (MMSE) with age-and education-corrected scores. Methods: a cohort study of chronic heart failure patients included in an integrated multidisciplinary hospital/primary care program. The MMSE (corrected for age and education in the Spanish population) was administered at enrolment in the program. Analyses were performed in 525 patients. Demographic and clinical variables were collected. Comprehensive assessment included depression (Yesavage), family function (family APGAR), social network (Duke), dependence (Barthel Index), frailty (Barber), and comorbidities. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to determine the predictors of cognitive impairment. Results: cognitive impairment affected 145 patients (27.6 %). Explanatory factors were gender (OR: 2.77 (1.75-4.39) p  3.5 (OR: 0.59 (0.35-0.99) p = 0.048), and beta-blocker treatment (OR: 0.36 (0.17 to 0.76, p = 0.007)). No association was found between cognitive impairment and social support or family function. Conclusion: the observed prevalence of cognitive impairment using MMSE corrected scores was 27.6 %. A global approach in the management of these patients is needed, especially focusing on women and patients with frailty, low albumin levels, and ischemic aetiology heart failure