Utility of transcranial sonography in the diagnosis of drug-induced parkinsonism: a prospective study.

Background and purpose: Drug-induced parkinsonism usually resolves after discontinuation of the causative agent. However, it persists in some patients, who actually have subclinical neurodegenerative parkinsonism. Identification of this condition is important because these patients could benefit from therapeutic measures. The objective of this study was to prove whether transcranial sonography, a technique used in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative parkinsonism, can be used for the said identification. Methods: In this prospective study, patients with drug-induced parkinsonism were followed for at least 6 months after discontinuation of the causative drug and performance of blinded transcranial sonography. Patients were categorized as having iatrogenic parkinsonism if the clinical presentation had resolved or subclinical drugexacerbated parkinsonism if it persisted. Once the patient was classified into one of the two groups, an expert assessed the transcranial sonography findings and their agreement with the clinical diagnosis. Results: Twenty patients composed the group for analysis of results. Assessing hyperechogenicity in the substantia nigra >20 mm2 and/or hyperechogenic lentiform nucleus, differences were detected between the iatrogenic parkinsonism and the subclinical drug-exacerbated parkinsonism groups, although they did not reach statistical significance (Fisher’s exact test 0.09). Joint assessment of sonographic alterations in both structures had a negative predictive value of 85.7% for diagnosis of drug-induced parkinsonism, with a negative likelihood ratio of 0.3. Conclusions: Although in our study statistically significant differences were not found between the transcranial sonography characteristics of subclinical drug-exacerbated parkinsonism and iatrogenic parkinsonism patients, we believe that transcranial sonography is a valid technique for diagnosis of drug-induced parkinsonism

Incremental learning for Volcano monitoring

This document studies the creation of a computer program written in Java programming language to classify seismic movements occurred between 2015 and 2016 collected from volcano Puracé in Colombia, with the inclusion in this system of Data Mining application MOA by the University of Waikato. It is offered an initial study of aspects to take into consideration for the problem, presenting for a more profound analysis of the questions from a technological point of view, various suggestions and ways of confronting it. By performing a series of tests using surveillance data from volcano Puracé and applying modifications to these data, it’s derived the accuracy of Data Mining algorithms and necessary processes to produce a base structure for real-time applications related to seismic movement analysis. The analysis of the data is also performed, along with derivation of models of prediction using the program built for this project.Ingeniería Informática (Plan 2011

SARS-CoV-2 infection and seroprevalence in patients with multiple sclerosis

Introducción: El efecto de la infección por SARS-CoV-2 en los pacientes con esclerosis múltiple (EM) y la influencia de los tratamientos modificadores de la enfermedad (TME) es desconocida. Hasta el momento no se ha observado que los pacientes con EM tengan mayor riesgo de infección por COVID-19, ni peor curso evolutivo de la misma. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de pacientes con EM e infección por SARS-CoV-2 diagnosticada mediante PCR. Hemos analizado variables demográficas, clínicas, de laboratorio y de tratamiento en nuestra muestra. Se ha determinado la presencia de anticuerpos frente a SARS-CoV-2 en estos pacientes. Resultados: La forma de esclerosis múltiple remitente recurrente (EMRR) fue la más frecuente en lo pacientes con EM e infección por COVID-19. El 10,2% presentó una evolución desfavorable, relacionada con una mayor edad y una Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) más elevada. La seroprevalencia de anticuerpos frente a SARS-CoV-2 en nuestro estudio ha sido del 83,3%. El desarrollo de anticuerpos no está relacionado con el TME, la presencia de linfopenia u otros factores analizados. Conclusiones: La incidencia de COVID-19 ha sido ligeramente inferior a la de la población general de nuestra provincia. La evolución desfavorable se ha relacionado con una mayor edad y una puntuación elevada en la EDSS. El TME y la linfopenia no se han relacionado con el curso de la infección por COVID-19. La seroprevalencia es similar a la encontrada en población general con PCR positiva, sin poder determinar la influencia de los distintos TME.Introduction: The effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and the influence of disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for MS on COVID-19 are unknown. To date, patients with MS have not been shown to present greater risk of COVID-19 or more severe progression of the disease. Methods: We performed a descriptive study of patients with MS presenting SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed with PCR. We analysed demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment variables in our sample. Presence of antibodies against the virus was also determined. Results: Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) was the most frequent form of MS in our sample. Prognosis was unfavourable in 10.2% of patients, and was associated with older age and higher scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was 83.3% in our sample. Development of antibodies was not associated with DMT, lymphocytopaenia, or any of the other variables analysed. Conclusions: The incidence of COVID-19 was slightly lower in our sample than in the general population in our province. Unfavourable prognosis was associated with older age and higher EDSS scores. DMT and lymphocytopaenia did not influence the clinical course of COVID-19. Seroprevalence of antibodies against the virus in our sample was similar to that reported for the general population with positive PCR results for the virus; the influence of specific DMTs could not be determined

Saposin C, Key Regulator in the Alpha-Synuclein Degradation Mediated by Lysosome

Lysosomal dysfunction has been proposed as one of the most important pathogenic molecular mechanisms in Parkinson disease (PD). The most significant evidence lies in the GBA gene, which encodes for the lysosomal enzyme beta-glucocerebrosidase (beta-GCase), considered the main genetic risk factor for sporadic PD. The loss of beta-GCase activity results in the formation of alpha-synuclein deposits. The present study was aimed to determine the activity of the main lysosomal enzymes and the cofactors Prosaposin (PSAP) and Saposin C in PD and healthy controls, and their contribution to alpha-synuclein (alpha-Syn) aggregation. 42 PD patients and 37 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. We first analyzed the beta-GCase, beta-galactosidase (beta-gal), beta-hexosaminidase (Hex B) and Cathepsin D (CatD) activities in white blood cells. We also measured the GBA, beta-GAL, beta-HEX, CTSD, PSAP, Saposin C and alpha-Syn protein levels by Western-blot. We found a 20% reduced beta-GCase and beta-gal activities in PD patients compared to controls. PSAP and Saposin C protein levels were significantly lower in PD patients and correlated with increased levels of alpha-synuclein. CatD, in contrast, showed significantly increased activity and protein levels in PD patients compared to controls. Increased CTSD protein levels in PD patients correlated, intriguingly, with a higher concentration of alpha-Syn. Our findings suggest that lysosomal dysfunction in sporadic PD is due, at least in part, to an alteration in Saposin C derived from reduced PSAP levels. That would lead to a significant decrease in the beta-GCase activity, resulting in the accumulation of alpha-syn. The accumulation of monohexosylceramides might act in favor of CTSD activation and, therefore, increase its enzymatic activity. The evaluation of lysosomal activity in the peripheral blood of patients is expected to be a promising approach to investigate pathological mechanisms and novel therapies aimed to restore the lysosomal function in sporadic PD.Foundation "Progreso y Salud" of the Junta de Andalucia PI-0424-2014FEDER/Junta de Andalucia-Consejeria de Transformacion Economica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades/Proyecto B-CTS-702-UGR20German Research Foundation (DFG) FPU14/03473 EST16/0080

Profile of grassroots football coaches of Spanish professional clubs

The aim of the study was to identify the profile and education of grassroots football coaches (working with 8-12-year olds) of Spanish professional clubs (first and second male division, and first female division), as well as the qualities and characteristics they should have. For this purpose, an ad hoc questionnaire of 57 questions was used, grouped into seven dimensions, and administered to 153 coaches. This research focuses on the socio-demographic variables as well as on the dimensions of the coach’s qualities and coach’s education. The results showed that the profile of the coach corresponded to the following: male between 20 and 30 years of age, with experience in football initiation of 4-7 years, but with a 2-year experience in coaching boys and girls aged 8-12 years, with the specific football qualification level II or Union of European Football Associations A. The coaches considered it very important to have pedagogical skills and to use coaching methods that focus on learning rather than on results in order to be a coach in these age categories. Moreover, the participants considered that the training received in the official coaching courses did not adequately qualify them to carry out the sporting and human education of boys and girls in the benjamin (under 10) and alevin (under 12) age categories. The coaches also felt that the contents of the coaching course should be adjusted to the requirements of these age groups. These considerations can help sports federations and training centres to establish strategies to improve the official training programmes for football coaches

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy and Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome after Discontinuation of Fingolimod

R.P.M. and F.J.B.H. have contributed to the conception and design of the work. R.P.M. and M.C.G. have contributed to the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data for the work. L.G.R. and F.J.B.H. have contributed to drafting the work and revising it critically. All the authors have approved the version to be published.Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare complication of immunosuppressive treatment in MS patients. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) appears after the withdrawal of certain drugs such as natalizumab (NTZ) or fingolimod. The development of PML-IRIS after NTZ treatment has been described, and its diagnosis is made by clinical and radiological criteria and the determination of the John Cunningham virus in CSF. We present a clinical case of a patient with MS who, after the withdrawal of fingolimod, developed PML-IRIS despite sustained lymphopenia. This is important for pharmacovigilance purposes, not only for NTZ but also for alternative drugs used in MS treatment

An empirical study of the driving forces behind online communities

Purpose – A large variety of online communities have emerged during the last years as a result of the challenges faced by both the business and scientific worlds. This trend has also been promoted by the development of internet and new Web 2.0 technologies. In this context, this paper is focused on the determinants of success of online communities. But, as a difference from other studies, these determinants are analyzed from the social network analysis perspective. Several constructs related to the community organization as a social network are proposed and their interrelations are hypothesized in a general research framework. The obtained results test the proposed model providing the most relevant antecedents of the project success. Design/methodology/approach – A case study based on Linux ports to non-conventional processor and environments is used to test the proposed model. Structural equation modeling analysis is used to validate the structural proposed model. Findings – The main antecedents of online communities’ success, quantifying the strength of the relation through the standardized path coefficients. Research limitations/implications – The research is limited to a particular set of online communities engaged with the development of the non-conventional Linux ports. However, they constitute a representative set of communities in the field of the open source projects (OSS) development, which are typically developed using a community of support. Originality/value – This paper fulfils the main antecedents causing the successful development of Internet virtual communities. Instead of using sources of data coming from users’ surveys, this study employs community interactions as a source of data. Results have important implications over the development of online communities, like software business models based on virtual communities and open source softwareMinisterio de Educación y Ciencia DPI2007-60128Junta de Andalucía. Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa P07-TIC-0262

The role of Internet in the development of future software projects

Purpose – The Internet has evolved, prompted in part by new Web 2.0 technologies, to become a more widespread platform for interaction, communication, and activism. Virtual communities, or groups of people informally bound together by shared expertise, synthesise this Internet evolution and theWeb 2.0 technology. Users increasingly want to engage online with one another and with organisations of all kinds. These novel Internet-based technologies dominate the new business models of the digital economy giving companies radical new ways to harvest the talents of innovators working outside corporate boundaries. One of the most illustrative examples of this new trend is the Open Source Software (OSS) projects development. This paper aims to analyse the structure and topology of the virtual community supporting one of the most successfully OSS projects, Linux. The objective is to provide conclusions for being successful in the development of future virtual communities. As companies learn to manage these virtual communities, they will develop smarter and faster ways to create value through them. Design/methodology/approach – The interactions of the virtual community members of an ARM-embedded Linux project website is analysed through social network analysis techniques. The participants’ activity is studied and some conclusions about the participation features are obtained using the Gini coefficient. In particular, a participation inequality behaviour or a concentration on a small number of developers is clearly observed. Findings – The paper deals with the guidelines that virtual communities should follow to be successful. Results about the structure of a successful virtual community and its time evolution are provided to determine the mentioned guidelines. Research limitations/implications – The research is limited to a particular virtual community engaged with the development of the ARM-embedded Linux OSS. Other successful virtual communities can be analysed, and the conclusions could be compared. Anyway, the proposed analysis methodology can be extended to other virtual communities. Originality/value – The paper fulfils the development and features of Internet virtual communities to be successful. Results have important implications over the development of new software business models based on virtual communities and open source software. Contributions about the best organisation of virtual communities leading to a successful development of the underlying project are presented.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia DPI2007- 60128Junta de Andalucía. Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa P07-TIC-0262

Distributed urban traffic applications based on CORBA event services

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) in urban environments are based today on modern embedded systems with enhanced digital connectivity and higher processing capabilities, supporting distributed applications working in a cooperative manner. This paper provides an overview about modern cooperative ITS equipments and presents a distributed application to be used in an urban data network. As a case example, an application based on an embedded CORBA-compliant middleware layer and several computer vision equipments is presented. Results prove the feasibility of distributed applications for building intelligent urban environments