Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, collagen scaffold and BMP-2 for rat spinal fusio

The use of autograft for posterolateral spinal fusion, continue being considered the gold standard for the treatment of spine pathologies. However, due to complications such as donor site morbidity, increased operating time, and limited supply, the use of allograft has become an acceptable practice especially in multisegment arthrodesis or in patients with previous graft harvests. Since their use involves the risk of immune response or disease transmission and fusion rates are not as good as with autogenous bone, a variety of bone graft substitutes are being studied to obtain a better alternative. Osteoinductive growth factors, which initiate the molecular cascade of bone formation and play a key role in the development and regeneration of the skeletal system, have been shown to be effective in numerous animal studies. These molecules must be used in combination with a biomaterial to avoid their dispersion from the application site. On the other hand, it is well known that cultured bone marrow cells, harvested from adult bone marrow, may contribute to the regeneration of bone. Thus, hybrid constructs can be used as alternatives to autologous and allogenic grafts. In this study, we have evaluated different combination of cultured bone marrow cells with recombinant human osteoinductive growth factors, all of them in combination with a natural polimeric carrier, for the promotion of posterolateral spinal fusion in rats. Supported by grants from the Red de Terapia Celular (RD12/0019/0032), Spanish Government BIO2012-34960, and the Andalusian Government (P11-CVI 07245).Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Wunderlich syndrome (spontaneous renal hematoma) as a cause of acute abdomen: a case report

Spontaneous renal hemorrhage, also known as Wünderlich syndrome, is a rare condition that can be life-threatening and consists of the onset of sudden hemorrhage into the subcapsular and perirenal spaces. It can be lethal as it goes unnoticed and requires aggressive treatment. The entity lies mainly in neoplasms, the malignant ones being the most common. We present the case of a 63-year-old female patient with acute abdomen clinic, a diagnostic laparoscopy was performed and renal hematoma was evidenced as the cause of the symptoms. It was managed conservatively without any complications. We emphasize the importance of keeping in mind Wünderlich syndrome as a differential diagnosis to instigate early treatment for a better outcome.

Correlation analysis between ceramic insulator pollution and acoustic emissions

La mayoría de los estudios relacionados con la contaminación de aisladores son desarrollados normalmente con base en un análisis individual entre la corriente de fuga, la humedad relativa y la densidad de los depósitos de sal equivalente (ESDD). Este trabajo presenta un análisis de correlación entre la corriente de fuga y las emisiones acústicas medidas en una subestación eléctrica de 230 kV, en la ciudad de Barranquilla, Colombia. Además, se consideraron variables atmosféricas para desarrollar un modelo de caracterización del proceso de la contaminación de los aisladores eléctricos. Este modelo fue utilizado para demostrar que los niveles de emisión de ruido son un indicador fiable para detectar y caracterizar la contaminación en aisladores de alta tensión. La correlación encontrada entre las variables atmosféricas, eléctricas y las de sonido permitieron determinar las relaciones para el mantenimiento de los aisladores cerámicos en zonas de alta contaminación. En este artículo se muestran los resultados de la investigación sobre el comportamiento de la corriente de fuga en aisladores cerámicos y el sonido que se producen ante diferentes condiciones atmosféricas, lo cual permite evaluar el mejor momento para limpiar el aislador en la subestación. Además, mediante experimentación in situ y utilizando modelos estadísticos, se obtuvo la correlación entre las variables ambientales y la corriente de fuga de la subestación. Algunos de los inconvenientes que trae el ruido externo en la medición fueron superados utilizando varios micrófonos y software especializado que permitían filtrar correctamente el sonido y lograr una mejor medición de las variables.Most of the studies related to insulator pollution are normally performed based on individual analysis among leakage current, relative humidity and equivalent salt deposit density (ESDD). This paper presents a correlation analysis between the leakage current and the acoustic emissions measured in a 230 kV electrical substations in the city of Barranquilla, Colombia. Furthermore, atmospheric variables were considered to develop a characterization model of the insulator contamination process. This model was used to demonstrate that noise emission levels are a reliable indicator to detect and characterize pollution on high voltage insulators. The correlation found amount the atmospheric, electrical and sound variables allowed to determine the relations for the maintenance of ceramic insulators in high-polluted areas. In this article, the results on the behavior of the leakage current in ceramic insulators and the sound produced with different atmospheric conditions are shown, which allow evaluating the best time to clean the insulator at the substation. Furthermore, by experimentation on site and using statistical models, the correlation between environmental variables and the leakage current substation was obtained. Some of the problems that bring the external noise were overcome using multiple microphones and specialized software that enabled properly filter the sound and better measure the variables

IMPLEMENTACIÓN DE UN ALGORITMO PID EN UN CONTROLADOR LÓGICO PROGRAMABLE BAJO UNA RED DE COMUNICACIÓN INDUSTRIAL

Este articulo presenta la implementación de un algoritmo PID en un PLC click Koyo integrado a una red de comunicación industrial, bajo el protocolo Modbus RTU, como parte de un modulo didáctico de automatización. El proyecto permite tener herramientas pedagógicas para el estudio en el análisis de respuesta y comportamiento de controladores a través de una interfaz grafica HMI en tiempo real bajo una red de comunicación industrial. El desarrollo de este proyecto es un aporte a la solución de problemas y a la generación de alternativas de bajo costo para la adquisición y adaptación tecnológica en el área de comunicaciones industriales, automatización y control

New GTC spectroscopic data and a statistical study to better constrain the redshift of the BL Lac RGB J2243 + 203

We present new spectroscopic data of the BL Lac RGB 2243 + 203, and its surroundings, obtained with the OSIRIS Multi Object Spectrograph (MOS) mounted in the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). The spectra of neither the BL Lac nor its host galaxy show any spectral feature, thus hindering direct determination of its redshift. The spectroscopic redshift distribution of objects in the MOS field of view shows four galaxies with redshift between 0.5258 and 0.5288. We make use of a statistical analysis to test the possibility that the targeted BL Lac may be a member of that group. By using the spectroscopic redshifts obtained with our GTC observations, we found that this probability is between 86 and 93 per cent.Fil: Rosa González, D. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Muriel, Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Mayya, Y. D.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Aretxaga, I.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Becerra González, J.. Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias; EspañaFil: Carramiñana, Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Méndez-Abreu, J.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Vega, O. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Terlevich, E-. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Coutiño de León, S.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Furniss, A.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Longinotti, A. L.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Terlevich, R. J.. Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electrónica; MéxicoFil: Pichel, Ana Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Rovero, Adrian Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Donzelli, Carlos Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; Argentin

Multidrug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis treatment regimens and patient outcomes: an individual patient data meta-analysis of 9,153 patients.

Treatment of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is lengthy, toxic, expensive, and has generally poor outcomes. We undertook an individual patient data meta-analysis to assess the impact on outcomes of the type, number, and duration of drugs used to treat MDR-TB

Unexpected decline in tuberculosis cases coincident with economic recession -- United States, 2009

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since 1953, through the cooperation of state and local health departments, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has collected information on incident cases of tuberculosis (TB) disease in the United States. In 2009, TB case rates declined -11.4%, compared to an average annual -3.8% decline since 2000. The unexpectedly large decline raised concerns that TB cases may have gone unreported. To address the unexpected decline, we examined trends from multiple sources on TB treatment initiation, medication sales, and laboratory and genotyping data on culture-positive TB.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed 142,174 incident TB cases reported to the U. S. National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS) during January 1, 2000-December 31, 2009; TB control program data from 59 public health reporting areas; self-reported data from 50 CDC-funded public health laboratories; monthly electronic prescription claims for new TB therapy prescriptions; and complete genotyping results available for NTSS cases. Accounting for prior trends using regression and time-series analyses, we calculated the deviation between observed and expected TB cases in 2009 according to patient and clinical characteristics, and assessed at what point in time the deviation occurred.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall deviation in TB cases in 2009 was -7.9%, with -994 fewer cases reported than expected (<it>P </it>< .001). We ruled out evidence of surveillance underreporting since declines were seen in states that used new software for case reporting in 2009 as well as states that did not, and we found no cases unreported to CDC in our examination of over 5400 individual line-listed reports in 11 areas. TB cases decreased substantially among both foreign-born and U.S.-born persons. The unexpected decline began in late 2008 or early 2009, and may have begun to reverse in late 2009. The decline was greater in terms of case counts among foreign-born than U.S.-born persons; among the foreign-born, the declines were greatest in terms of percentage deviation from expected among persons who had been in the United States less than 2 years. Among U.S.-born persons, the declines in percentage deviation from expected were greatest among homeless persons and substance users. Independent information systems (NTSS, TB prescription claims, and public health laboratories) reported similar patterns of declines. Genotyping data did not suggest sudden decreases in recent transmission.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our assessments show that the decline in reported TB was not an artifact of changes in surveillance methods; rather, similar declines were found through multiple data sources. While the steady decline of TB cases before 2009 suggests ongoing improvement in TB control, we were not able to identify any substantial change in TB control activities or TB transmission that would account for the abrupt decline in 2009. It is possible that other multiple causes coincident with economic recession in the United States, including decreased immigration and delayed access to medical care, could be related to TB declines. Our findings underscore important needs in addressing health disparities as we move towards TB elimination in the United States.</p

Altered TMPRSS2 usage by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron impacts infectivity and fusogenicity

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 variant emerged in 20211 and has multiple mutations in its spike protein2. Here we show that the spike protein of Omicron has a higher affinity for ACE2 compared with Delta, and a marked change in its antigenicity increases Omicron’s evasion of therapeutic monoclonal and vaccine-elicited polyclonal neutralizing antibodies after two doses. mRNA vaccination as a third vaccine dose rescues and broadens neutralization. Importantly, the antiviral drugs remdesivir and molnupiravir retain efficacy against Omicron BA.1. Replication was similar for Omicron and Delta virus isolates in human nasal epithelial cultures. However,&nbsp;in lung cells and gut cells, Omicron demonstrated lower replication. Omicron spike protein was less efficiently cleaved compared with Delta. The differences in replication were mapped to the entry efficiency of the virus on the basis&nbsp;of spike-pseudotyped&nbsp;virus assays. The defect in entry of Omicron pseudotyped virus to specific cell types effectively correlated with higher cellular RNA expression of TMPRSS2, and deletion of TMPRSS2 affected Delta entry to a greater extent than Omicron. Furthermore, drug inhibitors targeting specific entry pathways3 demonstrated that the Omicron spike inefficiently uses the cellular protease TMPRSS2, which promotes cell entry through plasma membrane fusion, with greater dependency on cell entry through the endocytic pathway. Consistent with suboptimal S1/S2 cleavage and inability to use TMPRSS2, syncytium formation by the Omicron spike was substantially impaired compared with the Delta spike. The less efficient spike cleavage of Omicron at S1/S2 is associated with a shift in cellular tropism away from TMPRSS2-expressing cells, with implications for altered pathogenesis