Intracerebral haemorrhage in a dog with steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis

A one-year and six-month-old female neutered Boxer dog was presented with a four-day history of pyrexia, lethargy and neck pain. An intracerebral haemorrhage and a mediastinal mass were identified. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed severe neutrophilic pleocytosis, and steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis (SRMA) was suspected. A significant improvement was observed with immunosuppressive steroid therapy and subsequent imaging revealed a reduction in size of the intracerebral haemorrhage and disappearance of the mediastinal mass. SRMA is a systemic disease with potential involvement of multiple organs. Intracerebral haemorrhage can occur secondary to SRMA and can have a successful outcome

Evaluación de patrones de apego en niños prematuros, estudio comparativo con niños nacidos a término

Preliminary results of an ongoing investigation are presented in a public health center in the city of La Banda, province of Santiago del Estero, which aims to assess the incidence of prematurity in the child's attachment style. Children born preterm and full-term are evaluated during the second year of life (12-24 months). It is based on the idea that some characteristics of prematurity, such as hospitalization in neonatology and behavioral and emotional manifestations different from that of children born at term, can introduce differences in the way of linking. The sample consisted of 30 mother-baby dyads corresponding to two groups: group A, composed of mother- premature baby dyads, and a control group B, composed of mother-non-premature baby dyads, 15 of these correspond to mother/premature son and 15 to mother/non premature child. Fifteen girls and 15 males were studied. Healthy children were selected for the non-premature children control group (without previous pathologies). The mothers were between 22 and 37 years old and the children between 12 and 24 months old. To assess the attachment, the Argentine Procedure of the Strange Situation scale was used (Rodríguez and Oiberman, 2013) and socio-demographic information of certain variables that could be associated with the quality of attachment of infants with their mothers (maternal age, marital status, maternal work, child's gender and time of child's admission) was compiled. The Argentine Procedure of the Strange Situation is a controlled laboratory procedure consisting of observation in a double-mirror room, where the infant and his mother are evaluated in 8 episodes of 3 minutes each, in which the mother separates from and meets with her son, together with the presence of a stranger. For the statistical analysis of the data obtained, the statistical package for social sciences was used (SPSS). The research has the endorsement of the Institutional Committee of Ethics of Research in Health (CIEIS) corresponding to the Ministry of Health and Social development of Santiago del Estero, which certifies that the investigation complies with the ethical requirements. The results show that there are no statistical significant differences among the groups studied in the quality of attachment. Although it can be observed that the percentage of safe attachment is lower in premature infants in relation to children born at term, 60 % and 73 % respectively, this difference does not become significant at the statistical level. It should be taken into account that in this study we worked with a small simple; perhaps in a broader number of members of each group the results have significant differences. Similarly, no relationship was found between the socio-demographic variables studied and the style of attachment of the child. It was found that, in the case of premature born children, the time of hospitalization is related to the quality of attachment, most children who had a safe attachment style are those who had fewer days of hospitalization (less than 15 days). This study may be considered one of the first in South America to analyze the frequency of adherence patterns in premature early childhood, with the use of the argentine adaptation of the instrument that has more validation in the subject of attachment. These first results of the research in progress have certain limitations: one of them is the number of cases analyzed, and a second one was that the work was done with moderate and late preterm. It would be interesting to analyze the results of a study including children born with extreme prematurity (before 28 weeks).Se presentan resultados preliminares de una investigación en curso que se realiza en un centro público de salud de la ciudad de La Banda, provincia de Santiago del Estero, que propone evaluar la incidencia de la prematuridad en el estilo de apego del niño. Se evalúan niños nacidos prematuros y nacidos a término entre 12 y 24 meses. Se parte de la idea de que características de la prematuridad, tales como la internación en neonatología y las manifestaciones conductuales y emocionales diferentes a las de niños nacidos a término, pueden introducir diferencias en el apego. La muestra estuvo integrada por 30 díadas madre-bebé correspondientes a dos grupos: (A) compuesto por díadas madre-bebé prematuro, y (B) de control, compuesto por díadas madre-bebé no prematuro. Para evaluar el apego, se utilizó la escala Procedimiento Argentino de la Situación Extraña (Rodríguez y Oiberman, 2013) y se recopiló información sociodemográfica de determinadas variables que pudieran estar asociadas a la calidad del apego de los infantes con sus madres (edad materna, estado civil, trabajo materno, género del niño y tiempo de internación del niño). Los resultados muestran que no existen diferencias con significación estadística entre los grupos estudiados en la calidad del apego. Se encontró relación entre el tiempo de internación y la distribución de apego, siendo que a mayor frecuencia de apego seguro, menor tiempo de internación del niño. Este estudio es uno de los primeros en analizar la distribución del apego en infantes nacidos prematuros en Sudamérica.Fil: Gutierrez, María José. Universidad Católica de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentin

Mechanical Stability in Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

Mechanical stability of back contact solar cells deteriorates when holes (MWT, EWT) or grooves (TWT) are created in the wafer. These operations are essential for these structures so we found necessary to quantify the magnitude of this damage. A set of wafers with the EWT structure was produced and its mechanical strength measured by the Ring on Ring bending test. Other two sets of wafers with similar processes were prepared and tested to compare the effect of different fabrication steps on mechanical strength of the wafer. A numeric model was developed to analyse the data from the Ring on Ring test and a statistical study was carried out

Evaluation of wave loads on a new type of perforated caisson

Permission is granted by ICE Publishing to print one copy for personal use. Any other use of these PDF files is subject to reprint fees.A new type of perforated breakwater has been tested combining the advantages of cylindrical geometry with stepped wave energy dissipation. Thus, the new type of caisson implies a significant reduction of maximum wave forces, as well as loads transmitted to the foundation in comparison with conventional vertical breakwater and other types of perforated caissons. Starting from a brief description of the model and test results, this paper describes the development of a methodology for the estimation of maximum wave loads on this type of breakwater, in order to become a generalisable tool for predesign purposes. Construction and installation constraints of this new type of caisson are also assessed. These need to be taken into account in order to keep some advantages from the proposed design, while noting the key factors from a practical point of view.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Valoración de la garantía de pensión en las cuentas de ahorro individual en Colombia

El comportamiento del individuo como persona que aporta, y futuro beneficiario de una pensión, es determinante para cuantificar los efectos que su densidad de aportes tiene sobre el sistema de ahorro individual y la exigibilidad de las diferentes garantías. Por esta razón, en el presente trabajo se intenta buscar desde las finanzas personales una visión alterna a lo expuesto en diferentes estudios que sobre la materia se han realizado, no solo en Colombia sino a nivel internacional, y brindar una aproximación a la solución del problema de sostenibilidad en el retiro. Para calcular la magnitud de las garantías, se desarrolló un procedimiento que combina metodologías de modelos estocásticos con modelos de lógica difusa y con el cálculo actuarial. De esta forma, y soportado en resultados de otros estudios, se logró determinar el ahorro individual potencial alcanzable por cada individuo en función de su género y su cohorte salarial, y el posible déficit existente para conseguir una pensión mínima de retiro. Los resultados encontrados indican que en las condiciones de baja densidad de aportes es muy difícil para las cohortes de bajo y medio ingreso asegurar una pensión mínima sin el agotamiento de las garantías existentes y la participación del gobierno

SYSTEMIC ADMINISTRATION OF EPOTHYLONE-D RECUES MEMORY AND AMELIORATES ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE-LIKE PATHOLOGY IN APP/PS1 MICE

Aims Cognitive and memory decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients is highly related to synaptic dysfunction and neuronal loss. Tau hyperphosphorylation destabilizes microtubules leading to axonal transport failure, accumulation of autophagy/vesicular material and the generation of dystrophic neurites, thus contributing to axonal/synaptic dysfunction. In this study, we analyzed the effect of a microtubule-stabilizing drug in the progression of the disease in an APP751SL/PS1M146L transgenic model. Method APP/PS1 mice (3 month-old) were weekly treated with 2 mg/kg intraperitoneal injections of Epothilone-D (Epo-D) for 3 months. Vehicle-injected animals were used as controls. For memory performance, animals were tested on the object-recognition tasks, Y-maze and Morris water maze. Levels of Abeta, ubiquitin, AT8 and synaptic markers were analyzed by Western-blot. Hippocampal plaque burden, dystrophic and synaptic loadings were quantified after immunostaining by image analysis. Results Epo-D treated mice showed a significant improvement in the performance of hippocampus-associated cognitive tests compared to controls. This memory recovery correlated with a significant reduction in the AD-like hippocampal pathology. Abeta, APP and ubiquitin levels were significantly reduced in treated animals, and a decrease in both the plaque loading and the axonal pathology was also found. Finally, synaptic levels were significantly preserved in treated animals in comparison with controls. Conclusion Epo-D treatment promotes synaptic and cognitive improvement, reduces the accumulation of extracellular Abeta and the associated neuritic pathology in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 model. Therefore, microtubule stabilizing drugs could be considered therapeutical candidates to slow down AD progression.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Supported by FIS-PI15/00796 (AG), FIS-PI15/00957(JV) and co-financed by FEDER funds from European Union

The Hydrodynamics of the Gulf of Cadiz and the Exchange of Water Masses Through the Gibraltar Strait

Studies on the exchange of water masses through the Gibraltar Strait, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, are numerous, mainly in recent years. However, there is a lack of works of synthesis about the mechanism, distribution and nature of the water masses etc., based on more recent data. On the other hand, the establishment of temperature and salinity data for the waters partially covering the continental shelf near Câdiz, has demonstrated the presence, in this area, of North Atlantic Surface Water (NASW), to about 140 metres depth, with clear seasonal variations. At a deeper level, some North Atlantic Central Water (NACW) has been detected, but the presence of Mediterranean Water (MW), which circulates below 500 metres, in the continental slope, has not been observed

Mechanisms involved in the remyelinating effect of sildenafil

Remyelination occurs in demyelinated lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) and pharmacological treatments that enhance this process will critically impact the long term functional outcome in the disease. Sildenafil, a cyclic GMP (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5-I), is an oral vasodilator drug extensively used in humans for treatment of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. PDE5 is expressed in central nervous system (CNS) neuronal and glial populations and in endothelial cells and numerous studies in rodent models of neurological disease have evidenced the neuroprotective potential of PDE5-Is. Using myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a MS model, we previously showed that daily administration of sildenafil starting at peak disease rapidly ameliorates clinical symptoms while administration at symptoms onset prevents disease progression. These beneficial effects of the drug involved down-regulation of adaptive and innate immune responses, protection of axons and oligodendrocytes (OLs) and promotion of remyelination. In this work we have investigated mechanisms involved in the remyelinating effect of sildenafil. Using demyelinated organotypic cerebellar slice cultures we demonstrate that sildenafil stimulates remyelination by direct effects on CNS cells in a nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP-protein kinase G (PKG)-dependent manner. We also show that sildenafil treatment enhances OL maturation and induces expression of the promyelinating factor ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in spinal cord of EAE mice and in cerebellar slice cultures. Furthermore, we demonstrate that sildenafil promotes a M2 phenotype in bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) and increases myelin phagocytosis in these cells and in M2 microglia/macrophages in the spinal cord of EAE mice. Taken together these data indicate that promotion of OL maturation directly or through induction of growth factor expression, regulation of microglia/macrophage inflammatory phenotype and clearance of myelin debris may be relevant mechanisms involved in sildenafil enhancement of remyelination in demyelinated tissue and further support the contention that this well tolerated drug could be useful for ameliorating MS pathology