Maternal cardiovascular potential and kinetic energy indices in pre-eclamptic and small-for-gestational-age pregnancies

Objective Non-invasive assessment of maternal cardiovascular potential and kinetic energy can be used to derive potential-to-kinetic-energy ratio (PKR) and Smith–Madigan inotropic index (SMII), which reflect the balance between blood pressure and blood flow. The aim of this study was to evaluate PKR and SMII in pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and/or small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth. Methods This was a prospective study that enrolled women with a singleton pregnancy between 5 and 41 weeks' gestation. Women who developed HDP and/or SGA underwent cardiovascular profiling from 20 weeks. To establish reference ranges for PKR and SMII, women without any pre-existing medical problems at the time of booking who did not develop HDP, SGA or other complications during pregnancy were also recruited for cardiovascular profiling. Measurements of cardiovascular parameters were obtained using a non-imaging ultrasound cardiac output monitor. Results A total of 688 women completed the study, including 626 controls, 21 cases with HDP, 19 cases with SGA and 22 cases with HDP and SGA. PKR was significantly elevated in pregnancies with placental dysfunction compared with controls (HDP only, 29.81 ± 9.5; HDP and SGA, 44.33 ± 24.27; SGA only, 31.05 ± 13.14; vs controls, 22.30 ± 7.93; all P < 0.05). SMII values were significantly lower only in cases affected by SGA alone when compared with controls (1.47 ± 0.23 W/m2 vs 1.75 ± 0.40 W/m2; P < 0.005). These differences remained statistically significant when the analysis was undertaken using multiples of the median values corrected for gestational age. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that point-of-care non-invasive cardiovascular profiling using PKR and SMII may help distinguish between pregnancies affected by specific placental disorders and those exhibiting healthy cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy. Women with HDP and/or SGA appear to have distinctive PKR and SMII profiles that reflect low kinetic energy in pregnancies with SGA and high potential energy in pregnancies affected by HDP. Finally, non-invasive assessment of potential and kinetic cardiovascular energy demonstrates physiological high-flow and low-resistance adaptation in uncomplicated pregnancies

Correlation Between Opioid Drug Prescription and Opioid-Related Mortality in Spain as a Surveillance Tool: Ecological Study

Background: Opioid drug prescription (ODP) and opioid-related mortality (ORM) have increased in Spain. However, their relationship is complex, as ORM is registered without considering the type of opioid (legal or illegal). Objective: This ecological study aimed to examine the correlation between ODP and ORM in Spain and discuss their usefulness as a surveillance tool. Methods: This was an ecological descriptive study using retrospective annual data (2000-2019) from the Spanish general population. Data were collected from people of all ages. Information on ODP was obtained from the Spanish Medicines Agency in daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DHD) for total ODP, total ODP excluding those with better safety protocols (codeine and tramadol), and each opioid drug separately. Rates of ORM (per 1,000,000 inhabitants) were calculated based on deaths registered (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes) as opioid poisoning by the National Statistics Institute, derived from the drug data recorded by medical examiners in death certificates. Opioid-related deaths were considered to be those that indicated opioid consumption (accidental, infringed, or self-inflicted) as the main cause of death: death due to accidental poisoning (X40-X44), intentional self-inflicted poisoning (X60-X64), drug-induced aggression (X85), and poisoning of undetermined intention (Y10-Y14). A descriptive analysis was carried out, and correlations between the annual rates of ORM and DHD of the prescribed opioid drugs globally, excluding medications of the least potential risk of overdose and lowest treatment tier, were analyzed using Pearson linear correlation coefficient. Their temporal evolution was analyzed using cross-correlations with 24 lags and the cross-correlation function. The analyses were carried out using Stata and StatGraphics Centurion 19. Results: The rate of ORM (2000-2019) ranged between 14 and 23 deaths per 1,000,000 inhabitants, with a minimum in 2006 and an increasing trend starting in 2010. The ODP ranged between 1.51 to 19.94 DHD. The rates of ORM were directly correlated with the DHD of total ODP (r=0.597; P=.006), total ODP without codeine and tramadol (r=0.934; P<.001), and every prescribed opioid except buprenorphine (P=.47). In the time analysis, correlations between DHD and ORM were observed in the same year, although not statistically significant (all P≥.05). Conclusions: There is a correlation between greater availability of prescribed opioid drugs and an increase in opioid-related deaths. The correlation between ODP and ORM may be a useful tool in monitoring legal opiates and possible disturbances in the illegal market. The role of tramadol (an easily prescribed opioid) is important in this correlation, as is that of fentanyl (the strongest opioid). Measures stronger than recommendations need to be taken to reduce off-label prescribing. This study shows that not only is opioid use directly related to the prescribing of opioid drugs above what is desirable but also an increase in deaths

Pectin-Based Formulations for Controlled Release of an Ellagic Acid Salt with High Solubility Profile in Physiological Media

Among bioactive phytochemicals, ellagic acid (EA) is one of the most controversial because its high antioxidant and cancer-preventing effects are strongly inhibited by low gastrointestinal absorption and rapid excretion. Strategies toward an increase of solubility in water and bioavailability, while preserving its structural integrity and warranting its controlled release at the physiological targets, are therefore largely pursued. In this work, EA lysine salt at 1:4 molar ratio (EALYS), exhibiting a more than 400 times increase of water solubility with respect to literature reports, was incorporated at 10% in low methoxylated (LM) and high methoxylated (HM) pectin films. The release of EA in PBS at pH 7.4 from both film preparations was comparable and reached 15% of the loaded compound over 2 h. Under simulated gastric conditions, release of EA from HM and LM pectin films was minimal at gastric pH, whereas higher concentrations-up to 300 μM, corresponding to ca. 50% of the overall content-were obtained in the case of the HM pectin film after 2 h incubation at the slightly alkaline pH of small intestine environment, with the enzyme and bile salt components enhancing the release. EALYS pectin films showed a good prebiotic activity as evaluated by determination of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels following microbial fermentation, with a low but significant increase of the effects produced by the pectins themselves. Overall, these results highlight pectin films loaded with EALYS salt as a promising formulation to improve administration and controlled release of the compound

Systematic review of healthcare interventions for reducing gender-based violence impact on the mental health of women with disabilities

Fil: Pastor Moreno, Guadalupe. Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, España.Fil: Pastor Moreno, Guadalupe. Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica yen Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, España.Fil: Pastor Moreno, Guadalupe. Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, España.Fil: Saletti Cuesta, Lorena. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Argentina.Fil: Saletti Cuesta, Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad, Argentina.Fil: Henares Montiel, Jesús. Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, España.Fil: Henares Montiel, Jesús. Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica yen Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, España.Fil: Henares Montiel, Jesús. Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, España.Fil: Escudero Carretero, María J. Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, España.Fil: Escudero Carretero, María J. Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica yen Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, España.Fil: Escudero Carretero, María J. Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, España.Fil: Higueras Callejón, Camila. Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, España.Fil: Ruiz Pérez Isabel. Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, España.Fil: Ruiz Pérez Isabel. Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica yen Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, España.Fil: Ruiz Pérez, Isabel. Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, España.Purpose: Women with disabilities are more exposed to violence. The health sector hasa key role in all three levels of prevention of violence against women. The objective ofthis paper was to review the interventions for preventing gender-based violence andreducing its impact on the mental health of women with any form of disability. Method: Relevant studies were identified through conducting searches in PubMed,Scopus, CINAHL, PsyInfo, Social Services Abstracts, and PILOTS. Two reviewers ana-lyzed and selected studies. A qualitative synthesis was made. Results: 3149 references were obtained, among which eight articles describing nineinterventions from the USA and the UK. Most were intended for women with mental/intellectual disability and assessed intimate partner or sexual violence. Only one studyshowed high methodological quality. They were found to be particularly effective asregards improvement of the skills acquired by participants, but the results as regardsimproved mental health are not consistent. Conclusion: Our review shows very little evidence of effective interventions. Furtherstudies are required with higher internal validity and female sample groups with di-verse disabilities.Clinical Relevance: Gender-based violence is a highly prevalent problem for womenwith disabilities, and in addition to being a public health challenge is a violation ofhuman rights. Health care systems and policymakers should take a key role in all threelevels of prevention of violence against women with disabilities. Interventions withlonger follow-up times are required. It is also important for interventions to be de-signed in consultation with people with disabilities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionFil: Pastor Moreno, Guadalupe. Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, España.Fil: Pastor Moreno, Guadalupe. Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica yen Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, España.Fil: Pastor Moreno, Guadalupe. Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, España.Fil: Saletti Cuesta, Lorena. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Argentina.Fil: Saletti Cuesta, Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad, Argentina.Fil: Henares Montiel, Jesús. Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, España.Fil: Henares Montiel, Jesús. Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica yen Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, España.Fil: Henares Montiel, Jesús. Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, España.Fil: Escudero Carretero, María J. Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, España.Fil: Escudero Carretero, María J. Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica yen Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, España.Fil: Escudero Carretero, María J. Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, España.Fil: Higueras Callejón, Camila. Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, España.Fil: Ruiz Pérez Isabel. Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, España.Fil: Ruiz Pérez Isabel. Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica yen Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, España.Fil: Ruiz Pérez, Isabel. Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, España

Physiological and transcriptomic characterization of a fliA mutant of Pseudomonas putida KT2440

Pseudomonas putida KT2440 encodes 23 alternative sigma factors. The fliA gene, which encodes σ28, is in a cluster with other genes involved in flagella biosynthesis and chemotaxis. Reverse transcriptase-PCR revealed that this cluster is comprised of four independent transcriptional units: flhAF, fleNfliA, cheYZA and cheBmotAB. We generated a nonpolar fliA mutant by homologous recombination and tested its motility, adhesion to biotic and abiotic surfaces, and responses to various stress conditions. The mutant strain was nonmotile and exhibited decreased capacity to bind to corn seeds, although its ability to colonize the rhizosphere of plants was unaffected. The mutant was also affected in binding to abiotic surfaces and its ability to form biofilms decreased by almost threefold. In the fliA mutant background expression of 25 genes was affected: two genes were upregulated and 23 genes were downregulated. In addition to a number of motility and chemotaxis genes, the fliA gene product is also necessary for the expression of some genes potentially involved in amino acid utilization or stress responses; however, we were unable to assign specific phenotypes linked to these genes since the fliA mutant used the same range of amino acids as the parental strain, and was as tolerant as the wild type to stress imposed by heat, antibiotics, NaCl, sodium dodecyl sulfate, H2O2 and benzoate. Based on the sequence alignment of promoters recognized by FliA and genome in silico analysis, we propose that P. putidaσ28 recognizes a TCAAG-t-N12-GCCGATA consensus sequence located between −34 and −8 and that this sequence is preferentially associated with an AT-rich upstream region

The Role of Faults as Barriers in Confined Seismic Sequences: 2021 Seismicity in the Granada Basin (Betic Cordillera)

Fault barriers are key structures for studying seismic hazard in regions of intense brittle deformation. The interaction between fault sets affects their seismogenic behavior, if some of them act as barriers. The Granada Basin, in the Betic Cordillera, is a region affected by shallow brittle deformation, as it was the scenario for the recent Granada 2021 seismic sequence. This seismicity presented a swarm behavior at the beginning of the sequence, followed by mainshock-aftershock features. Geological and gravity data presented here reveal that the basement is affected by two sets of NW-SE and NE-SW normal faults and intensely deformed by vertical NW-SE joints. Improved relocation of the Granada 2021 seismicity reveals a confined chimney-shape seismicity caused by the activity of a 2 km long NW-SE normal fault segment. The confinement of the sequence is associated with the NE-SW fault set acting as a barrier that restricts the rupture area, limiting the maximum magnitude, and favoring the recurrence of events with smaller magnitude. The chimney-shape of the seismic sequence suggests that the deformation is propagated vertically to the surface, facilitated by preexisting fractures. The shallow extensional deformation during the uplift of the central Betic Cordillera drove the activity of the local structures obliquely to the regional extensional trends, as evidenced by the seismic sequence. This multidisciplinary study improves the knowledge on the origin of the Granada Basin and underlies the important role of preexisting fractures on fault segmentation and seismic propagation, decreasing the seismic potential of this area.Spanish projects Evaluación de la Peligrosidad de Inestabilidades de Laderas Asociadas a Terremotos (CGL2015-65602-R AEI-FEDER)B-RNM-301-UGR18 (Junta de Andalucía/FEDER);P18-RT-3275 (Junta de Andalucía/FEDER)Programa Operativo FEDER Andalucía 2014–2020 – call made by the University of Jaén (Ref. 126344)POAIUJA 2021/2022 from the University of JaénAndalusian research groups RNM-148Andalusian research groups RNM-282Andalusian research groups RNM-37

The Role of Faults as Barriers in Confined Seismic Sequences: 2021 Seismicity in the Granada Basin (Betic Cordillera)

Fault barriers are key structures for studying seismic hazard in regions of intense brittle deformation. The interaction between fault sets affects their seismogenic behavior, if some of them act as barriers. The Granada Basin, in the Betic Cordillera, is a region affected by shallow brittle deformation, as it was the scenario for the recent Granada 2021 seismic sequence. This seismicity presented a swarm behavior at the beginning of the sequence, followed by mainshock-aftershock features. Geological and gravity data presented here reveal that the basement is affected by two sets of NW-SE and NE-SW normal faults and intensely deformed by vertical NW-SE joints. Improved relocation of the Granada 2021 seismicity reveals a confined chimney-shape seismicity caused by the activity of a 2 km long NW-SE normal fault segment. The confinement of the sequence is associated with the NE-SW fault set acting as a barrier that restricts the rupture area, limiting the maximum magnitude, and favoring the recurrence of events with smaller magnitude. The chimney-shape of the seismic sequence suggests that the deformation is propagated vertically to the surface, facilitated by preexisting fractures. The shallow extensional deformation during the uplift of the central Betic Cordillera drove the activity of the local structures obliquely to the regional extensional trends, as evidenced by the seismic sequence. This multidisciplinary study improves the knowledge on the origin of the Granada Basin and underlies the important role of preexisting fractures on fault segmentation and seismic propagation, decreasing the seismic potential of this area

Castillo-palacio de La Calahorra, Granada: influencia de los factores climáticos y arquitectónicos en el deterioro diferencial de sus fábricas pétreas

El castillo-palacio de La Calahorra es un edificio histórico (s. XVI) con una doble funcionalidad. El exterior es un castillo-fortaleza de estilo tardo-medieval, construido con mampuestos y sillarejos de una caliza cristalina de gran dureza y resistencia. El interior es un palacio renacentista, hecho con sillares de caliza micrítica y arenisca dolomítica, ambos materiales pétreos son porosos, blandos y poco resistentes. Todo el edificio tiene una tonalidad anaranjada debido a la pátina de hierro que tiñe sus fábricas y que es consecuencia de la acción del viento. Existe un deterioro diferencial entre sus fábricas externas e internas, según el tipo de piedra empleado, la acción del agua de lluvia y el viento, y los defectos constructivos detectados. Mientras que la piedra exterior está en buen estado de conservación, las interiores sufren importantes procesos de deterioro, principalmente la caliza micrítica presente en las zonas ornamentales y decorativas del patio central.The castle-palace of La Calahorra is a historical building (s. XVI) with a dual-function. The exterior is a castlefortress of late-medieval style, built with masonry and ashlar of a crystalline limestone of great hardness and strength. The interior is a Renaissance palace, made with ashlar limestone micritic and dolomitic sandstone, both stone materials are porous, soft and little resistant. The entire building has an orange hue due to the patina of iron that stained their factories and that is a consequence of the action of the wind. There is a differential deterioration among its external and internal, depending on the type of stone used factories, the action of rain and wind and the construction defect detected. While the exterior stone is in good state of conservation, the interiors are important processes of deterioration, mainly the limestone micritic present in the ornamental and decorative areas of the central courtyard.Este trabajo ha sido cofinanciado por la Comunidad de Madrid a través del programa Geomateriales (S2009/MAT- 1629) y por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) a través del programa Consolider-Ingenio 2007 (CSD2007-0058). Además forma parte de las actividades del grupo de investigación de la UCM “Alteración y Conservación de los Materiales Pétreos del Patrimonio” (ref. 921349)

Seeds as potential sources of phenolic compounds and minerals for the Indian population

Seeds are major sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds for human beings. In this work, the chemical composition and physicochemical properties of 155 Indian seeds (belonging to 49 families) are reported. Moisture and ash were measured with reference protocols from AOAC; total polyphenols and flavonoids were measured with spectrophotometric methods after extraction with organic solvents, and mineral elements were determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrophotometry. Total phenolic compounds, flavonoids and mineral contents (Al, Ba, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, Rb, S, Sr, Ti, V and Zn) were found to vary in the ranges 182–5000, 110–4465 and 687–7904 mg/100 g (DW), respectively. Noticeably, polyphenol contents higher than 2750 mg/100 g were observed in 18 seeds. In addition, mineral contents &gt;5000 mg/100 g were detected in the seeds from Cuminum cyminum, Foeniculum vulgare, Commiphora wightii, Parkia javanica, Putranjiva roxburghii, Santalum album and Strychnos potatorum. Botanical and taxonomical variations in the proximate characteristics of the examined seeds are also discussed