Ligilactobacillus salivarius V4II-90 eradicates Group B Streptococcus colonisation during pregnancy: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of bacterial neonatal sepsis. This study aimed to confirm the effect of Ligilactobacillus salivarius V4II-90 on GBS colonisation during pregnancy. A randomised, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was conducted in seven hospitals in Madrid, Spain. The sample was broken down into two groups with 20 participants each (n = 40) in order to show reduced GBS colonisation frequency in the probiotic versus the placebo group. Pregnant participants positive for vaginal-rectal colonisation before or during the 13th week of gestation were randomly assigned to either the placebo or the probiotic group. The probiotic, L. salivarius V4II-90 at 1 × 109 cfu/day was administered for 12 weeks, starting at week 21-23 of gestation. The primary outcome was the percentage of participants with vaginal and/or rectal GBS colonisation at the end of the intervention period (35 weeks of gestation). Secondary outcomes were changes in the microbial composition of vaginal and rectal exudates; premature delivery; premature rupture of membranes; intrapartum antibiotics; new-borns with early or late-onset GBS sepsis; adverse events (AEs); and GBS test results performed at the hospital at week 35 of gestation. Of the 481 participants included, 44 were vaginal-rectal colonised with GBS and randomised. 43 completed the study (20 in the probiotic group and 23 in the placebo group). After intervention, GBS was eradicated in six participants (27%) from the placebo group and in twelve participants (63%) from the probiotic group (P = 0.030). None of the 185 AEs reported were identified as possibly, probably, or definitely related to the investigational product. In conclusion, oral administration of L. salivarius V4II-90 is a safe and successful strategy to significantly decrease the rates of GBS colonisation at the end of pregnancy and, therefore, to reduce the exposure of subjects and their infants to intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxisThis research was funded by Casen Recordati SL, Spai

Variability and power enhancement of current controlled resistive switching devices

Producción CientíficaIn this work, the unipolar resistive switching behaviour of Ni/HfO2/Si(n+) devices is studied. The structures are characterized using both current and voltage sweeps, with the device resistance and its cycle-to-cycle variability being analysed in each case. Experimental measurements indicate a clear improvement on resistance states stability when using current sweeps to induce both set and reset processes. Moreover, it has been found that using current to induce these transitions is more efficient than using voltage sweeps, as seen when analysing the device power consumption. The same results are obtained for devices with a Ni top electrode and a bilayer or pentalayer of HfO2/Al2O3 as dielectric. Finally, kinetic Monte Carlo and compact modelling simulation studies are performed to shed light on the experimental results.Junta de Andalucía - FEDER (B-TIC-624-UGR20)Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) (project 20225AT012)Ramón y Cajal (grant RYC2020-030150-I

Adherencia bacteriana en los materiales de sutura de uso habitual en cirugía bucal. Revisión sistemática

Objetivo: Demostrar la existencia de agregación bacteriana a los materiales de sutura que suelen emplearse en la práctica odontológica, comprobar si dicha agregación está relacionada con la inflamación que sucede al acto quirúrgico y por último dar recomendaciones sobre qué tipo de sutura se adapta mejor para la prevención de la adherencia bacteriana. Material y método: Búsqueda bibliográfica a través de las bases de datos PubMed, Cochrane y Scielo empleando las palabras clave: surgical sutures, bacterial adherence. Como criterios de inclusión se aceptaron los estudios publicados en los últimos 15 años, in vivo o in vitro en relación con la cirugía oral y con un nivel de evidencia científico superior a 3 según los criterios de evidencia científica. Fueron excluidas todas aquellas publicaciones que no tenían como objeto de estudio las sutura seda, Nylon , Supramid , Monocryl , Vicryl o Vicryl Plus . También se excluyeron todas aquellas publicaciones que no relacionaban los materiales de sutura a la agregación bacteriana. Resultados: Un total de 9 publicaciones se organizaron en función del tipo de sutura empleada, si eran estudios in vivo o in vitro, el número de pacientes/muestras, tiempo transcurrido hasta la remoción de las suturas, si se realizaron controles, si existió algún tipo de reacción inflamatoria, que tipo de bacterias se agregaron y que material obtuvo mayor agregación. Discusión: Los materiales de sutura que mayor acúmulo de placa bacteriana presentan bajo las mismas condiciones de tiempo de exposición a bacterias, son los de tipo multifilamento reabsorbible no tratados con antimicrobianos

Key Factors Associated With Pulmonary Sequelae in the Follow-Up of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

Introduction: Critical COVID-19 survivors have a high risk of respiratory sequelae. Therefore, we aimed to identify key factors associated with altered lung function and CT scan abnormalities at a follow-up visit in a cohort of critical COVID-19 survivors. Methods: Multicenter ambispective observational study in 52 Spanish intensive care units. Up to 1327 PCR-confirmed critical COVID-19 patients had sociodemographic, anthropometric, comorbidity and lifestyle characteristics collected at hospital admission; clinical and biological parameters throughout hospital stay; and, lung function and CT scan at a follow-up visit. Results: The median [p25–p75] time from discharge to follow-up was 3.57 [2.77–4.92] months. Median age was 60 [53–67] years, 27.8% women. The mean (SD) percentage of predicted diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) at follow-up was 72.02 (18.33)% predicted, with 66% of patients having DLCO < 80% and 24% having DLCO < 60%. CT scan showed persistent pulmonary infiltrates, fibrotic lesions, and emphysema in 33%, 25% and 6% of patients, respectively. Key variables associated with DLCO < 60% were chronic lung disease (CLD) (OR: 1.86 (1.18–2.92)), duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (OR: 1.56 (1.37–1.77)), age (OR [per-1-SD] (95%CI): 1.39 (1.18–1.63)), urea (OR: 1.16 (0.97–1.39)) and estimated glomerular filtration rate at ICU admission (OR: 0.88 (0.73–1.06)). Bacterial pneumonia (1.62 (1.11–2.35)) and duration of ventilation (NIMV (1.23 (1.06–1.42), IMV (1.21 (1.01–1.45)) and prone positioning (1.17 (0.98–1.39)) were associated with fibrotic lesions. Conclusion: Age and CLD, reflecting patients’ baseline vulnerability, and markers of COVID-19 severity, such as duration of IMV and renal failure, were key factors associated with impaired DLCO and CT abnormalities

The strongly defective double perovskite Sr11M o4O23: Crystal structure in relation to ionic conductivity

The crystal structure and ionic conductivity properties of a novel microcrystalline Sr11Mo4O23 ceramic material are presented. This material has been prepared by thermal treatment up to 1473emK, in air, of previously decomposed citrate precursors. The complex crystal structure was refined from combined X-ray powder diffraction and neutron powder diffraction data. The formula of this phase can be rewritten as Sr1.75□ 0.25SrMoO5.75, highlighting the relationship with double perovskites A2 B′B′′O6. At room temperature, the crystal structure is tetragonal in space group I4 1/a, with a = 11.6107em(6)emÅ, c = 16.422em(1)emÅ and V = 2213.8em(2)emÅ3. The crystal network contains O anion and Sr cation vacancies. The structure is complex, with Sr, Mo and O atoms distributed over four, two and six distinct Wyckoff sites, respectively. Only one of the Sr sites (SrO6) corresponds to the octahedral network; one of the two MoO 6 types of octahedra is axially distorted. The three other Sr positions occupy the A site with higher coordination. There is an occupational deficit of O atoms of 22em(4)%. This defective framework material presents an interesting ionic mobility, enhanced above 773emK owing to a further reduction in the oxygen content.CP thanks CONICET (project Nos. PIP01360/08 and PIP00912/12) and SECyT-UNSL (project Nos. PROICO7707 and PROICO2-1612). DGL acknowledges ANPCyT for financial support (projects PICT2011 Nos. 1948 and 2689). JAA thanks the Spanish MICINN for funding via project No. MAT2013-41099-R

A Framework for User Adaptation and Profiling for Social Robotics in Rehabilitation

Physical rehabilitation therapies for children present a challenge, and its success—the improvement of the patient’s condition—depends on many factors, such as the patient’s attitude and motivation, the correct execution of the exercises prescribed by the specialist or his progressive recovery during the therapy. With the aim to increase the benefits of these therapies, social humanoid robots with a friendly aspect represent a promising tool not only to boost the interaction with the pediatric patient, but also to assist physicians in their work. To achieve both goals, it is essential to monitor in detail the patient’s condition, trying to generate user profile models which enhance the feedback with both the system and the specialist. This paper describes how the project NAOTherapist—a robotic architecture for rehabilitation with social robots—has been upgraded in order to include a monitoring system able to generate user profile models through the interaction with the patient, performing user-adapted therapies. Furthermore, the system has been improved by integrating a machine learning algorithm which recognizes the pose adopted by the patient and by adding a clinical reports generation system based on the QUEST metricThis work is partially funded by grant RTI2018-099522-B-C43 of FEDER/Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación - Ministerio de Universidades - Agencia Estatal de Investigació

Coexistence of localized and itinerant electrons in the double-perovskite Ba2Fe2/3Mo4/3O6

A polycrystalline Ba2Fe2/3Mo4/3O 6 double-perovskite has been prepared by decomposition of citrate precursors and subsequent thermal treatment under a reducing atmosphere. The crystal structure has been studied by combined X-ray and neutron powder diffraction (XRPD and NPD). At room temperature, the structure is cubic (Fm3̄m) with lattice parameter a = 8.0710(1) Å. It is unchanged between 3 and 320 K. The crystallographic formula is Ba2[Fe 0.52(2)Mo0.48(2)]4a[Fe0.14(2)Mo 0.86(2)]4bO5.9(2). NPD, electron spin resonance (ESR), and magnetization measurements show spontaneous magnetization below the Curie temperature (TC) = 310 K. The ESR behavior is associated with the presence of localized Fe3+ ions, whereas the transport properties (electrical conductivity and Seebeck effect) suggest the presence of highly correlated electrons in a metallic band with disorder, which can be associated with the Mo t2g electrons. The coexistence of localized and itinerant electrons leads to non-negligible magnetoresistance properties.J. C. P. thanks Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) (project PIP 112‐200801‐01360), Secretaría de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Universidad Nacional de San Luis (SECyT‐UNSL) (project PROICO 2‐7707‐22/Q823), and Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT) (project PICT 6/25459). R. D. S. thanks Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNCuyo), CONICET, and ANPCyT (Argentina) under grants 06/C389, PIP‐490, and PICT2007‐0832/PICT2011‐0752. J. C. P., R. D. S., C. A. L., and M. E. S. are members of CONICET. J. A. A. acknowledges the financial support of the Spanish Ministry of Education on the project MAT2007‐60536