Plasticity of Dendritic Spines. Not Only for Cognitive Processes

Excitatory synaptic transmission is associated with the input of “new” information at synaptic junctions established by dendritic spines. The role that each type of spine plays in the transmission of the synaptic impulses is different. Indeed, there is a close relationship between the shape of spines and the differential processing of the excitatory synaptic information that is relayed to them, influencing in turn the transmission of synaptic information related to several psychoneural processes

Evaluación del rendimiento potencial de cuatro cultivares de batata (Ipomoea batatas (l.) lam.) en Corrientes

Sweet potatoe [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., Convolvulaceae family] is cultivated in the five continents, it is the seventh most cultivated food crop in the world and the third with commercial underground organs. In Argentina, the average yield is 14,9 tn ha-1 , which is considered low compared to other Latin American countries; particularly in the province of Corrientes sweet potatoe is produced with obsolete technology. The objective of this work has been to know the roots potential yield of four sweet potatoes cultivars under technical management in the agro-ecological conditions of the north of Corrientes Province. For this purpose, the experiment was carried out applying fertilization, integrated weed management and localized irrigation. The evaluated sanitized cultivares (cvs) of commercial interest had been: for short cycle Beauregarr and Arapey INIA, and for long cycle Morada INTA and Okinawa 100. For this, a randomized complete block design was used with four repetitions measuring variables such as: Number of Total (NRT), Commercial (NRC) and Non-Commercial (NRNC) Roots, Total Fresh Weight of Roots (PFT) of Commercial Roots (PFRC) and Non-Commercial Roots (PRNC) per m2 from which estimates were made per hectare. The results were submitted to the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test (p <0.05). The cvs Okinawa 100 and Morada INTA achieved the highest yields with 72,79 and 55,29 tn ha-1 respectively, five-fold and three-fold the average yield of the Province of Corrientes was increased. The cvs Beauregard and Arapey INIA achieved 36.42 and 33,03 tn ha-1 respectively, two-fold increased the provincial average yield. The NRC and the NRNC did not differ statistically between the cultivars evaluated.La batata [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., familia Convolvulaceae] se cultiva en los cinco continentes, ubicándose en el séptimo lugar entre los cultivos alimenticios y en el tercero de los que tiene órganos comerciales subterráneos. En Argentina, el rendimiento promedio es de 14,9 tn ha-1, lo que se considera bajo respecto a otros países de Latinoamérica; particularmente en la provincia de Corrientes la batata se produce con tecnología obsoleta. El objetivo del trabajo ha sido conocer el potencial de rendimiento de raíces de batata de cuatro cultivares bajo manejo tecnificado, en las condiciones agroecológicas del norte de la Provincia de Corrientes. A este fin el experimento se llevó a cabo aplicando fertilización, control integrado de malezas y riego localizado. Los cultivares (cvs) saneados y de interés comercial sometidos a evaluación han sido: Beauregard y Arapey INIA, de ciclo corto y Morada INTA y Okinawa 100 de ciclo largo. Para ello se utilizó un diseño en bloques completos al azar, con cuatro repeticiones, registrándose variables como Número de Raíces Totales (NRT), Comerciales (NRC) y de No Comerciales (NRNC), Peso Fresco Total de Raíces (PFT), de las Comerciales (PFRC) y las No Comerciales (PFRNC) por m2 a partir de los cual se realizaron estimaciones por hectárea. Los resultados fueron sometidos al análisis de la varianza (ANOVA) y prueba de Tukey (p<0,05). Los cvs Okinawa 100 y Morada INTA, alcanzaron los mayores rendimientos con 72,79 y 55,29 tn ha-1 respectivamente, quintuplicando y triplicando el rendimiento promedio de la Provincia de Corrientes. Los cvs Beauregard y Arapey INIA rindieron 36,42 y 33,03 tn ha-1 respectivamente, duplicando el rendimiento promedio provincial. El NRC y el NRNC no difirieron estadísticamente entre los cultivares evaluados

Mimicking bone microenvironment : 2D and 3D in vitro models of human osteoblasts

Understanding the in vitro biology and behavior of human osteoblasts is crucial for developing research models that reproduce closely the bone structure, its functions, and the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions that occurs in vivo. Mimicking bone microenvironment is challenging, but necessary, to ensure the clinical translation of novel medicines to treat more reliable different bone pathologies. Currently, bone tissue engineering is moving from 2D cell culture models such as traditional culture, sandwich culture, micro-patterning, and altered substrate stiffness, towards more complex 3D models including spheroids, scaffolds, cell sheets, hydrogels, bioreactors, and microfluidics chips. There are many different factors, such cell line type, cell culture media, substrate roughness and stiffness that need consideration when developing in vitro models as they affect significantly the microenvironment and hence, the final outcome of the in vitro assay. Advanced technologies, such as 3D bioprinting and microfluidics, have allowed the development of more complex structures, bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo models. In this review, past and current 2D and 3D in vitro models for human osteoblasts will be described in detail, highlighting the culture conditions and outcomes achieved, as well as the challenges and limitations of each model, offering a widen perspective on how these models can closely mimic the bone microenvironment and for which applications have shown more successful results

Designing for shape memory in additive manufacturing of Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloy processed by laser powder bed fusion

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are functional materials that are being applied in practically all industries, from aerospace to biomedical sectors, and at present the scientific and technologic communities are looking to gain the advantages offered by the new processing technologies of additive manufacturing (AM). However, the use of AM to produce functional materials, like SMAs, constitutes a real challenge due to the particularly well controlled microstructure required to exhibit the functional property of shape memory. In the present work, the design of the complete AM processing route, from powder atomization to laser powder bed fusion for AM and hot isostatic pressing (HIP), is approached for Cu-Al-Ni SMAs. The microstructure of the different processing states is characterized in relationship with the processing parameters. The thermal martensitic transformation, responsible for the functional properties, is analyzed in a comparative way for each one of the different processed samples. The present results demonstrate that a final post-processing thermal treatment to control the microstructure is crucial to obtain the expected functional properties. Finally, it is demonstrated that using the designed processing route of laser powder bed fusion followed by a post-processing HIP and a final specific thermal treatment, a satisfactory shape memory behavior can be obtained in Cu-Al-Ni SMAs, paving the road for further applications

Real world data in primary care: validation of diagnosis of atrial fibrillation in primary care electronic medical records and estimated prevalence among consulting patients

Primary care electronic medical records contain clinical-administrative information on a high percentage of the population. Before this information can be used for epidemiological purposes, its quality must be verified. This study aims to validate diagnoses of atrial fibrillation (AF) recorded in primary care electronic medical records and to estimate the prevalence of AF in the population attending primary care consultations. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional validation study of all diagnoses of AF recorded in primary care electronic medical records in Madrid (Spain). We also performed simple random sampling of diagnoses of AF (ICPC-2 code K78) registered by 55 physicians and random age- and sex-matched sampling of the records that included a diagnosis of AF. Electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and hospital discharge or cardiology clinic reports were matched. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), and overall agreement were calculated using the kappa statistic (κ). The prevalence of AF in the community of Madrid was estimated considering the sensitivity and specificity obtained in the validation. All calculations were performed overall and by sex and age groups. Results: The degree of agreement was very high (κ = 0.952), with a sensitivity of 97.84%, specificity of 97.39%, PPV of 97.37%, and NPV of 97.85%. The prevalence of AF in the population aged over 18 years was 2.41% (95%CI 2.39–2.42% [2.25% in women and 2.58% in men]). This increased progressively with age, reaching 16.95% in those over 80 years of age (15.5% in women and 19.44% in men). Conclusions: The validation results obtained enable diagnosis of AF recorded in primary care to be used as a tool for epidemiological studies. A high prevalence of AF was found, especially in older patientsThis study forms part of research funded by the FIS (Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias—Health Research Fund, Instituto de Salud Carlos III) grants no. PI13/00632, and co-funded by the European Union through the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER, “A way of shaping Europe”. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Hubble spectroscopy of LB-1: comparison with B+black-hole and Be+stripped-star models

LB-1 has variously been proposed as either an X-ray dim B-type star plus black hole (B+BH) binary, or a Be star plus an inflated stripped star (Be+Bstr) binary. The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) on board HST was used to obtain a flux-calibrated spectrum that is compared with non-LTE spectral energy distributions (SED) and line profiles for the proposed models. The Hubble data, together with the Gaia EDR3 parallax, provide tight constraints on the properties and stellar luminosities of the system. In the case of the Be+Bstr model we adopt the published flux ratio for the Be and Bstr stars, re-determine the T$_{eff}$ of the Bstr using the silicon ionization balance, and infer Teff for the Be star from the fit to the SED. We derive stellar parameters consistent with previous results, but with greater precision enabled by the Hubble SED. While the Be+Bstr model is a better fit to the HeI lines and cores of the Balmer lines in the optical, the B+BH model provides a better fit to the Si iv resonance lines in the UV. The analysis also implies that the Bstr star has roughly twice solar silicon abundance, difficult to reconcile with a stripped star origin. The Be star on the other hand has a rather low luminosity, and a spectroscopic mass inconsistent with its possible dynamical mass. The fit to the UV can be significantly improved by reducing the T$_{eff}$ and radius of the Be star, though at the expense of leading to a different mass ratio. In the B+BH model, the single B-type spectrum is a good match to the UV spectrum. Adopting a mass ratio of 5.1$\pm$0.1 (Liu et al. 2020) implies a BH mass of $\sim$21$^{+9}_{-8}M_{\odot}$.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, 1 online table In press with Astronomy & Astrophysic

FTO gene: Historic background and its relationship with chronic-degenerative diseases

Indexación: Scopus; Latindex.Alteraciones en el desarrollo de la atención y la organización conductual pueden configurar cuadros clínicos como el trastorno déficit de atención (TDA) que puede estar acompañado o no de hiperactividad (TDAH), este último parece tener una relación directa con otros diagnósticos de tipo endocrino como la obesidad. El objetivo del estudio es analizar la relación que existe entre el TDAH y la obesidad. Es por ello que se realiza una revisión sistemática de estudios científicos revelando relaciones y diferencias entre ambos trastornos desde una mirada fisiológica, cognoscitiva y comportamental. Se concluye que la relación entre el TDAH y la obesidad se da por factores genéticos, por variaciones dopaminérgicas, cambios en patrones de sueño, desajustes emocionales y por alteraciones en la regulación de la conducta; igualmente influyen factores sociales relacionados con el cuidado en el embarazo y la alimentación de las mujeres antes y durante la gestación.http://www.revhipertension.com/rlh_2_2018/5_fto_gene.pd

La resolución enfermera en la atención de la demanda espontánea: clave para el funcionamiento de un CUAP

Introducción: los centros de urgencia de atención primaria (CUAP) surgen con el objetivo de abordar la patología de bajo y medio nivel de urgencia. La utilización por enfermería de algoritmos de actuación validados de los problemas de salud agudos leve (PSAL) incrementa la resolución enfermera. Objetivos: describir los problemas de salud agudos leves en personas adultas resueltos por el personal de enfermería en el CUAP de Manso mediante algoritmos de actuación. Justificación: la implicación de la enfermera en la atención a los problemas de salud agudos leves en los CUAP consolida su cartera de servicios y la sitúa en la puerta de entrada al sistema sanitario. Los algoritmos de actuación otorgan a la enfermera la capacidad de gestionar hasta el final la resolución de la demanda del usuario. Material y método: la recogida de datos se llevó a cabo durante 6 meses y se analizó el uso de los 20 algoritmos de actuación. La extracción de datos se realizó a partir de la historia clínica informatizada. Resultados: la utilización de los algoritmos de actuación permitió resolver por enfermería un total de 1575 demandas sanitarias. Los algoritmos más utilizados en la resolución fueron los correspondientes a: 27 %, heridas; 20 %, aplicación de técnicas, y en un 13 %, educación sanitaria. La edad media es de 40 años. El 43 % fueron hombres y el 57 % mujeres. Conclusiones: la utilización de algoritmos de actuación en la toma de decisiones permite que el personal de enfermería resuelva un gran número de problemas de salud aumentando su protagonismo en la actividad asistencial e incrementando su cartera de servicios. La educación sanitaria basada en las recomendaciones prescritas en los algoritmos puede ayudar a resolver un porcentaje elevado de consultas

Mural Endocarditis: The GAMES Registry Series and Review of the Literature

Spanish Collaboration on Endocarditis—Grupo de Apoyo al Manejo de la Endocarditis infecciosa en España (GAMES).[Introduction] Mural infective endocarditis (MIE) is a rare type of endovascular infection. We present a comprehensive series of patients with mural endocarditis.[Methods] Patients with infectious endocarditis (IE) from 35 Spanish hospitals were prospectively included in the GAMES registry between 2008 and 2017. MIEs were compared to non-MIEs. We also performed a literature search for cases of MIE published between 1979 and 2019 and compared them to the GAMEs series.[Results] Twenty-seven MIEs out of 3676 IEs were included. When compared to valvular IE (VIE) or device-associated IE (DIE), patients with MIE were younger (median age 59 years, p < 0.01). Transplantation (18.5% versus 1.6% VIE and 2% DIE, p < 0.01), hemodialysis (18.5% versus 4.3% VIE and 4.4% DIE, p = 0.006), catheter source (59.3% versus 9.7% VIE and 8.8% DIE, p < 0.01) and Candida etiology (22.2% versus 2% DIE and 1.2% VIE, p < 0.01) were more common in MIE, whereas the Charlson Index was lower (4 versus 5 in non-MIE, p = 0.006). Mortality was similar. MIE from the literature shared many characteristics with MIE from GAMES, although patients were younger (45 years vs. 56 years, p < 0.001), the Charlson Index was lower (1.3 vs. 4.3, p = 0.0001), catheter source was less common (13.9% vs. 59.3%) and there were more IVDUs (25% vs. 3.7%). S. aureus was the most frequent microorganism (50%, p = 0.035). Systemic complications were more common but mortality was similar.[Conclusion] MIE is a rare entity. It is often a complication of catheter use, particularly in immunocompromised and hemodialysis patients. Fungal etiology is common. Mortality is similar to other IEs.Peer reviewe

Clinico-pathological characteristics and outcomes of patients with early-onset colorectal cancer

[Background]: The rising incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) among young patients is alarming. We aim to characterize the clinico-pathological features and outcomes of patients with early-onset CRC (EOCRC). [Methods]: We included all of the patients with pathologically confirmed diagnosis of CRC at Hospital Universitario La Paz from October 2016 to September 2020. EOCRC age cut-off was 50 years. All statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS v.25. [Results]: A total of 1152 patients were diagnosed with CRC, fifty-nine (5,1%) of them were After a median follow-up of 24 months, 279 patients have died. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached in either group (p = 0,06). Three-year OS was 80% (95%CI: 73-87) and 67 (95%CI: 65-69) in the younger and older group, respectively. In patients with localized disease that underwent surgery or other antineoplastic treatment ( n = 856), 159 events for disease-free survival (DFS) were observed. Median DFS was [Conclusions]: Patients with EOCRC are diagnosed at a more advanced stage and display distinct biological features (more prevalence of dMMR and WT tumors among others). Studies focusing on screening in this population and deeper molecular profiling are needed