Candida duobushaemulonii: An Old But Unreported Pathogen

Candidiasis caused by species of the Candida haemulonii complex (Candida haemulonii and Candida duobushaemulonii) and closely related species, Candida auris and Candida pseudohaemulonii are increasing. These species often show reduced susceptibility to antifungal drugs, such as azoles and amphotericin B or, less frequently, echinocandins. However, conventional phenotypic identification methods are unable to accurately differentiate these species and, therefore, their prevalence may have been underestimated. In this study, 150 isolates that were probably misidentified were reanalyzed using two novel PCR approaches. We found that one isolate previously identified in 1996 as Candida intermedia was C. duobushaemulonii, being one of the oldest isolates of this species described to date. We also found that this isolate had reduced susceptibility to fluconazole, itraconazole, and amphotericin B.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) [SAF2017-86188-P] and from the Consejería de Educación, Universidades e Investigación of Gobierno Vasco-Eusko Jaurlaritza [GIC15/78 IT-990-16]. C.M.-A. is recipient of a research grant from the program Reina Letizia para la inclusión of the Real Patronato de Discapacidad

The transition to parenthood in Spain: Adaptations to ideals

The experience of the transition to parenthood in Spain in this edited volume is strongly influenced by the economic crisis, 2008-2014. The vast majority of the couples interviewed for this study spoke about the precariousness of the labour market, job insecurity and not being able to make ends meet on just one pay-check. When the interviewed Spanish parents-to-be added all the leaves they were entitled to – 16 weeks of maternity leave, two weeks of paternity leave, two to four weeks of breastfeeding leave and holiday leave – they ended up with approximately 6 months of paid leave. After that, in most cases, both parents had to return to paid work because of economic reasons. Despite most couples expressing reluctance to send under 1-year-olds to childcare centres, the interviewed parents-to-be planned to combine different kinds of care in the second half of the first year of their child’s life. Mothers planned to take part-time parental leave while using childcare services and asking grandparents for help with the child during their paid work hours. Spanish ideals about good motherhood and fatherhood were still rather traditional. In the interviews, mothers were considered ‘by nature’ closer to the child and responsible for childcare. Yet, we also saw signs of the ‘new fatherhood’ ideal, constructed in opposition to previous generations of distanced fathers. Some men were willing to become very involved in childcare and planned to adapt their jobs. In addition, the economic crisis was mirrored in the emergence of a group of ‘crisis dads’, consisting of unemployed men who envisioned themselves as the main carer in response to not being able to be the main provider.2016-1

The issue of the revision corrected wiring residential building

Bakalářská práce se zabývá problematikou revizí elektrických instalací v obytných budovách. Úkolem práce je seznámení se s požadavky legislativních předpisů se zaměřením na české technické normy ČSN 33 2000-6, ČSN 33 1500 a navazující. Konkrétně jsou získané informace využity k provedení revize elektrické instalace zrekonstruovaného bytového domu. Cílem práce je uplatnění teoretických vědomostí a informací pro praktické provedení revize elektrické instalace.Bachelor’s thesis deals with the verification of electrical installations in residential buildings. The task of the thesis is to get acquainted with the requirements of the regulations with a focus on Czech technical standard CSN 33 2000-6, CSN 33 1500 and follow-up. Specifically, the information gathered is used to the implementation of the review installations in renovated apartment building. The aim is to apply the theoretical knowledge and information for the practical verification of the electrical installation.

Predicting Survival after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Myelofibrosis : Performance of the Myelofibrosis Transplant Scoring System (MTSS) and Development of a New Prognostic Model

Accurate prognostic tools are crucial to assess the risk/benefit ratio of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) in patients with myelofibrosis (MF). We aimed to evaluate the performance of the Myelofibrosis Transplant Scoring System (MTSS) and identify risk factors for survival in a multicenter series of 197 patients with MF undergoing allo-HCT. After a median follow-up of 3.1 years, 47% of patients had died, and the estimated 5-year survival rate was 51%. Projected 5-year risk of nonrelapse mortality and relapse incidence was 30% and 20%, respectively. Factors independently associated with increased mortality were a hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) ≥3 and receiving a graft from an HLA-mismatched unrelated donor or cord blood, whereas post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) was associated with improved survival. Donor type was the only parameter included in the MTSS model with independent prognostic value for survival. According to the MTSS, 3-year survival was 62%, 66%, 37%, and 17% for low-, intermediate-, high-, and very high-risk groups, respectively. By pooling together the low- and intermediate-risk groups, as well as the high- and very high-risk groups, we pinpointed 2 categories: standard risk and high risk (25% of the series). Three-year survival was 62% in standard-risk and 25% in high-risk categories (P <.001). We derived a risk score based on the 3 independent risk factors for survival in our series (donor type, HCT-CI, and PT-Cy). The corresponding 5-year survival for the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk categories was 79%, 55%, and 32%, respectively (P <.001). In conclusion, the MTSS model failed to clearly delineate 4 prognostic groups in our series but may still be useful to identify a subset of patients with poor outcome. We provide a simple prognostic scoring system for risk/benefit considerations before transplantation in patients with MF

Proposed global prognostic score for systemic mastocytosis: a retrospective prognostic modelling study

[Background]: Several risk stratification models have been proposed in recent years for systemic mastocytosis but have not been directly compared. Here we designed and validated a risk stratification model for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in systemic mastocytosis on the basis of all currently available prognostic factors, and compared its predictive capacity for patient outcome with that of other risk scores.[Methods]: We did a retrospective prognostic modelling study based on patients diagnosed with systemic mastocytosis between March 1, 1983, and Oct 11, 2019. In a discovery cohort of 422 patients from centres of the Spanish Network on Mastocytosis (REMA), we evaluated previously identified, independent prognostic features for prognostic effect on PFS and OS by multivariable analysis, and designed a global prognostic score for mastocytosis (GPSM) aimed at predicting PFS (GPSM-PFS) and OS (GPSM-OS) by including only those variables that showed independent prognostic value (p<0·05). The GPSM scores were validated in an independent cohort of 853 patients from centres in Europe and the USA, and compared with pre-existing risk models in the total patient series (n=1275), with use of Harrells' concordance index (C-index) as a readout of the ability of each model to risk-stratify patients according to survival outcomes.[Findings]: Our GPSM-PFS and GPSM-OS models were based on unique combinations of independent prognostic factors for PFS (platelet count ≤100 × 109 cells per L, serum β2-microglobulin ≥2·5 μg/mL, and serum baseline tryptase ≥125 μg/L) and OS (haemoglobin ≤110 g/L, serum alkaline phosphatase ≥140 IU/L, and at least one mutation in SRSF2, ASXL1, RUNX1, or DNMT3A). The models showed clear discrimination between low-risk and high-risk patients in terms of worse PFS and OS prognoses in the discovery and validation cohorts, and further discrimination of intermediate-risk patients. The GPSM-PFS score was an accurate predictor of PFS in systemic mastocytosis (C-index 0·90 [95% CI 0·87–0·93], vs values ranging from 0·85 to 0·88 for pre-existing models), particularly in non-advanced systemic mastocytosis (C-index 0·85 [0·76–0·92], within the range for pre-existing models of 0·80 to 0·93). Additionally, the GPSM-OS score was able to accurately predict OS in the entire cohort (C-index 0·92 [0·89–0·94], vs 0·67 to 0·90 for pre-existing models), and showed some capacity to predict OS in advanced systemic mastocytosis (C-index 0·72 [0·66–0·78], vs 0·64 to 0·73 for pre-existing models).[Interpretation]: All evaluated risk classifications predicted survival outcomes in systemic mastocytosis. The REMA-PFS and GPSM-PFS models for PFS, and the International Prognostic Scoring System for advanced systemic mastocytosis and GPSM-OS model for OS emerged as the most accurate models, indicating that robust prognostication might be prospectively achieved on the basis of biomarkers that are accessible in diagnostic laboratories worldwide.Carlos III Health Institute, European Regional Development Fund, Spanish Association of Mastocytosis and Related Diseases, Rare Diseases Strategy of the Spanish National Health System, Junta of Castile and León, Charles and Ann Johnson Foundation, Stanford Cancer Institute Innovation Fund, Austrian Science Fund

Entre artistas y restauradorӕs. Nuevos formatos de interacción e intercambio de conocimiento

Este proyecto ha tenido como objetivo la consolidación de una red de cooperación horizontal e intercambio interdisciplinar, internivelar, interdepartamental e interfacultativa entre artistas y conservadoræs-restauradoræs, así como la exploración de nuevas formas de interacción para generar conocimiento. Esta red conecta entre sí a los departamentos de la Facultad de Bellas Artes de la UCM (Dibujo y Grabado; Diseño e Imagen; y Pintura y Conservación-Restauración), al tiempo que fomenta interacciones con estudiantes y docentes de departamentos de arte y conservación-restauración de otras universidades públicas y privadas como son la Universidad de la Laguna, la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, la Universidad Francisco de Vitoria y la Universidad Antonio Nebrija. Así mismo, incorpora a la red un organismo externo al ámbito de la universidad y vinculado al ámbito profesional de la práctica artística, como es la Asociación Cultural Atelier Solar. El proyecto ha abarcado la realización de tres encuentros, un curso, una mesa redonda, la dirección de TFGs, la visita a estudios de artistas y el desarrollo de una investigación en torno a nuevos formatos de interacción entre conservadoræs-restauradoræs y artistas. Esta memoria recoge los objetivos propuestos y evalúa los alcanzados en base a una serie de indicadores, describe la metodología utilizada en el proyecto, analiza las características del equipo de trabajo y expone las actividades desarrolladas durante el curso 2021-2022. Los Anexos incluyen documentación sobre las actividades desarrolladas e imágenes sobre los procesos de investigación

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

PhDAY 2020 -FOO (Facultad de Óptica y Optometría)

Por cuarto año consecutivo los doctorandos de la Facultad de Óptica y Optometría de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid cuentan con un congreso propio organizado por y para ellos, el 4º PhDAY- FOO. Se trata de un congreso gratuito abierto en la que estos jóvenes científicos podrán presentar sus investigaciones al resto de sus compañeros predoctorales y a toda la comunidad universitaria que quiera disfrutar de este evento. Apunta en tu agenda: el 15 de octubre de 2020. En esta ocasión será un Congreso On-line para evitar que la incertidumbre asociada a la pandemia Covid-19 pudiera condicionar su celebración

Pseudomonas aeruginosa: An Audacious Pathogen with an Adaptable Arsenal of Virulence Factors

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a dominant pathogen in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) contributing to morbidity and mortality. Its tremendous ability to adapt greatly facilitates its capacity to cause chronic infections. The adaptability and flexibility of the pathogen are afforded by the extensive number of virulence factors it has at its disposal, providing P. aeruginosa with the facility to tailor its response against the different stressors in the environment. A deep understanding of these virulence mechanisms is crucial for the design of therapeutic strategies and vaccines against this multi-resistant pathogen. Therefore, this review describes the main virulence factors of P. aeruginosa and the adaptations it undergoes to persist in hostile environments such as the CF respiratory tract. The very large P. aeruginosa genome (5 to 7 MB) contributes considerably to its adaptive capacity; consequently, genomic studies have provided significant insights into elucidating P. aeruginosa evolution and its interactions with the host throughout the course of infection

Understanding Pseudomonas aeruginosa–Host Interactions: The Ongoing Quest for an Efficacious Vaccine

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of chronic respiratory infections in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), bronchiectasis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and acute infections in immunocompromised individuals. The adaptability of this opportunistic pathogen has hampered the development of antimicrobial therapies, and consequently, it remains a major threat to public health. Due to its antimicrobial resistance, vaccines represent an alternative strategy to tackle the pathogen, yet despite over 50 years of research on anti-Pseudomonas vaccines, no vaccine has been licensed. Nevertheless, there have been many advances in this field, including a better understanding of the host immune response and the biology of P. aeruginosa. Multiple antigens and adjuvants have been investigated with varying results. Although the most effective protective response remains to be established, it is clear that a polarised Th2 response is sub-optimal, and a mixed Th1/Th2 or Th1/Th17 response appears beneficial. This comprehensive review collates the current understanding of the complexities of P. aeruginosa-host interactions and its implication in vaccine design, with a view to understanding the current state of Pseudomonal vaccine development and the direction of future efforts. It highlights the importance of the incorporation of appropriate adjuvants to the protective antigen to yield optimal protection