Ectima gangrenoso, manifestación cutánea infrecuente de una infección por diversos agentes

El ectima gangrenoso es un trastorno infeccioso infrecuente clásicamente relacionado a bacteriemia, descrito principalmente en poblaciones inmunodeprimidas. El agente más comúnmente relacionado es Pseudomonas aeruginosa, sin embargo, se han descrito otras etiologías bacterianas, hongos filamentosos y levaduras. Su patogénesis está dada por la invasión de la pared de los vasos sanguíneos, causando trombosis arterial y venosa, desencadenando necrosis de epidermis y tejidos subdérmicos. Clínicamente, se manifiesta como máculas, vesículas o pústulas hemorrágicas que evolucionan a úlceras de superficie necrótica rodeadas por un halo eritematoso característico, habitualmente en un contexto clínico de sepsis. El diagnóstico de este cuadro es clínico, sin embargo, el estudio microbiológico es clave en la identificación del agente etiológico y un posterior tratamiento dirigido. En su manejo es esencial una alta sospecha clínica y el inicio de tratamiento antibiótico en forma precoz. La duración del tratamiento es variable y en algunos casos debe asociarse a debridación quirúrgica. El pronóstico es variable dependiendo de múltiples factores: estado inmunológico, agente etiológico, presencia de sepsis y el tiempo de inicio de tratamiento

Quantitative analysis of interferon alpha receptor subunit 1 and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 gene transcription in blood cells of patients with chronic hepatitis C

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Interferon (IFN)-α receptor 1 (<it>ifnar1</it>) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (<it>socs1</it>) transcription levels were quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 59 patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 17 non-infected individuals. Samples were obtained from patients infected with HCV that were either untreated or treated with IFN-α2 plus ribavirin for 1 year and divided into responders and non-responders based on viral load reduction 6 months after treatment. <it>Ifnar1 </it>and <it>socs1 </it>transcription was quantified by real-time RT-PCR, and the fold difference (2^-ΔΔCT) with respect to <it>hprt </it>housekeeping gene was calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>Ifnar1 </it>transcription increased significantly in HCV-infected patients either untreated (3.26 ± 0.31), responders (3.1 ± 0.23) and non-responders (2.18 ± 0.23) with respect to non-infected individuals (1 ± 0.34; <it>P </it>= 0.005). <it>Ifnar1 </it>transcription increased significantly (<it>P </it>= 0.003) in patients infected with HCV genotypes 1a (4.74 ± 0.25) and 1b (2.81 ± 0.25) but not in 1a1b (1.58 ± 0.21). No association was found of <it>Ifnar1 </it>transcription with disease progress, initial viral load or other clinical factors. With respect to <it>socs1 </it>transcription, values were similar for non-infected individuals (1 ± 0.28) and untreated patients (0.99 ± 0.41) but increased in responders (2.81 ± 0.17) and non-responder patients (1.67 ± 0.41). Difference between responder and non-responder patients was not statistically significant. <it>Socs1 </it>transcription increased in patients infected with HCV genotypes 1a and 1b (2.87 ± 0.45 and 2.22 ± 0.17, respectively) but not in 1a1b (1.28 ± 0.40). <it>Socs1 </it>transcript was absent in three patients infected with HCV genotype 1b. A weak correlation between <it>ifnar1 </it>and <it>socs1 </it>transcription was found, when Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that HCV infection may up-regulate <it>ifnar1 </it>transcription. HCV genotypes differ in their capacity to affect <it>ifnar1 </it>and <it>socs1 </it>transcription, as well as in the ability to evade the antiviral response.</p

Understanding the retreat of the Jurassic Cantabrian coast (N. Spain): Comprehensive monitoring and 4D evolution model of the Tazones Lighthouse landslide

[EN] Forecasting coastal dynamics and sea cliff retreat under different sea level rise scenarios requires a good understanding of the conditioning factors and their relative contribution to cliff stability. The so-called Jurassic Cantabrian Coast extends along 76 km of the coastline of the Asturias region (N Spain) and is well-known worldwide due to its paleontological heritage, in particular the presence of dinosaur remains and footprints. The abundance of stratigraphic, paleontological and tectonic studies contrasts with the scarcity of studies focused on the stability of this rocky coastline where cliffs predominate, sometimes exceeding 120 m in height. In fact, evidence of current and recent instability processes can be observed along the entire coastline. In this regard, continuous monitoring is crucial to understand ongoing instabilities in rocky coastlines, as in these settings some instabilities might initiate as slow movements that induce subtle topographic changes whose detection from either satellite or aerial imagery is problematic due to the spatial and temporal resolutions. This contribution presents a 4D evolution model of a key site, the Tazones Lighthouse landslide, located on the Cantabrian Coast of Asturias (N Spain), which affects subvertical rocky cliffs sculpted in the Jurassic bedrock made of alternating sandstone and marl. A high resolution multiapproach methodology was developed in order to understand its structure and kinematic characteristics, including: i) interpretation of aerial photographs and unmanned aerial photogrammetric surveys (UAV); ii) 22 monthly monitoring campaigns by total station; iii) 5 manual boreholes; iv) geomechanical characterization of the cliff bedrock; v) geomorphological evidence mapping; vi) analysis of landscape deformations obtained from UAV; and vii) precipitation, soil moisture and significant wave height (Hs) data analysis. The results show that the slope evolves by means of a complex-type mass movement, which combines translational and sliding mechanisms, and occupies tens of thousands of square meters. DTM and fieldwork analysis indicate that mass movement is mainly controlled by bedrock discontinuities (S0, 360/15-17; J1, 262/85; J2 166/75). The most important accelerations of slope movement correlate very well with rainfall, soil moisture and waves. Thus, the largest displacements occurring in January and October–November 2019, coincide with 2 periods of storms (maximum 24-h rainfall of 64.5 mm and 82.1 mm and maximum Hs of 6.54 and 9.09, respectively) and soil moisture values above 90%. Half of the markers moved more than 1 m and one of them exceeded 15 m. The 4D model obtained after the interpretation of the Tazones Lighthouse slope whole dataset, allows an understanding of how the surrounding cliffs have evolved in the past, fundamental to predicting their future behaviour.SIThis research is part of 1) the “COSINES” Project [CGL2017-83909-R], Call 2017 for RETOS Projects funded by the Spanish Economy, Industry and Competitiveness Ministry-Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (MINECO), the Spanish Research Agency-Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) and the European Regional Development Found (FEDER) and 2) the GEOCANCOSTA research group, supported by the Asturian Regional Government (Spain) [grant number GRUPIN-IDI-2018-184

Potential factors influencing the condition of demersal sharks in the Mediterranean deep sea ecosystems

The Alboran Sea and the Balearic Islands are two contrasting areas in terms of primary productivity. The former is among the most productive areas of the whole Mediterranean Sea, whereas the Balearic Islands is among the less productive ones in the western Mediterranean. The two areas also show different patterns in the bottom trawl fishing footprint. In the Alboran Sea, the fishing effort on the upper slope is much higher than in Balearic Islands. However, the opposite applies to the middle slope, the vast majority of it remaining unexploited in Alboran Sea, whereas a widespread fishery targeting blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus develops in Balearic Islands. Galeus melastomus is a small demersal shark species inhabiting slope bottoms, where adults and juveniles are segregated and concentrate in the middle and upper slope, respectively. It feeds intensively on mesopelagic preys which, in turn, feed on low trophic level organisms close to primary producers. In this work we aimed to study the effect of surface primary production on the condition of deep sea demersal communities. We compared the condition, diet and potential intra- and inter-species competition for feeding resources in the juveniles of G. melastomus between Alboran Sea and Balearic Islands. The comparisons of Le Cren’s relative condition factor, and hepatosomatic and digestivosomatic indices evidenced an opposite pattern to that a priori expectable: better condition in the less productive area. The analysis of stomach contents showed similar diets in both areas, but lower food ingestion in Alboran Sea than in Balearic Islands. Different abundances of potential intra- and inter-specific competitors for feeding resources in the two areas, apparently linked to the different fishing footprints, seems the most likely explanation for the better nourished individuals in Balearic Islands. Whereas juveniles of G. melastomus dominate the shark community in the Balearic Islands upper slope, where the presence of adults of this species is almost negligible, in Alboran Sea this stratum is dominated by adults and potential competitors of other small demersal shark species. All shark species together, including G. melastomus, showed abundances 38% higher in Alboran than in Balearic Islands. Our results show that condition of deep sea demersal fish is ruled by complex inter-relationships among different factors, needing the combination of biological, ecological and fisheries knowledge to understand its variability.En prensa2,42

A spectroscopy study of nearby late-type stars, possible members of stellar kinematic groups

Nearby late-type stars are excellent targets for seeking young objects in stellar associations and moving groups. The origin of these structures is still misunderstood, and lists of moving group members often change with time and also from author to author. Most members of these groups have been identified by means of kinematic criteria, leading to an important contamination of previous lists by old field stars. We attempt to identify unambiguous moving group members among a sample of nearby-late type stars by studying their kinematics, lithium abundance, chromospheric activity, and other age-related properties. High-resolution echelle spectra ($R \sim 57000$) of a sample of nearby late-type stars are used to derive accurate radial velocities that are combined with the precise Hipparcos parallaxes and proper motions to compute galactic-spatial velocity components. Stars are classified as possible members of the classical moving groups according to their kinematics. The spectra are also used to study several age-related properties for young late-type stars, i.e., the equivalent width of the lithium Li~{\sc i} \space 6707.8 \space \AA \space line or the $R'_{\rm HK}$ index. Additional information like X-ray fluxes from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey or the presence of debris discs is also taken into account. The different age estimators are compared and the moving group membership of the kinematically selected candidates are discussed. From a total list of 405 nearby stars, 102 have been classified as moving group candidates according to their kinematics. i.e., only $\sim$ 25.2 \% of the sample. The number reduces when age estimates are considered, and only 26 moving group candidates (25.5\% of the 102 candidates) have ages in agreement with the star having the same age as an MG memberComment: 39 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy \& Astrophysic

Dinosaur bonebed amber from an original swamp forest soil

Dinosaur bonebeds with amber content, yet scarce, offer a superior wealth and quality of data on ancient terrestrial ecosystems. However, the preserved palaeodiversity and/or taphonomic characteristics of these exceptional localities had hitherto limited their palaeobiological potential. Here, we describe the amber from the Lower Cretaceous dinosaur bonebed of Ariño (Teruel, Spain) using a multidisciplinary approach. Amber is found in both a root layer with amber strictly in situ and a litter layer mainly composed of aerial pieces unusually rich in bioinclusions, encompassing 11 insect orders, arachnids, and a few plant and vertebrate remains, including a feather. Additional palaeontological data—charophytes, palynomorphs, ostracods— are provided. Ariño arguably represents the most prolific and palaeobiologically diverse locality in which fossiliferous amber and a dinosaur bonebed have been found in association, and the only one known where the vast majority of the palaeontological assemblage suffered no or low-grade pre-burial transport. This has unlocked unprecedentedly complete and reliable palaeoecological data out of two complementary windows of preservation—the bonebed and the amber—from the same site.European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN)/FEDERMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO)/FEDERGeneralitat de CatalunyaGeneralitat de Catalunya/FEDERMMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN)Oxford UniversityAustrian Academy of SciencesUniversité de TunisGeneralitat ValencianaDepto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

Revealing the last 13,500 years of environmental history from the multiproxy record of a mountain lake (Lago Enol, northern Iberian Peninsula)

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10933-009-9387-7.We present the Holocene sequence from Lago Enol (43°16′N, 4°59′W, 1,070 m a.s.l.), Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain. A multiproxy analysis provided comprehensive information about regional humidity and temperature changes. The analysis included sedimentological descriptions, physical properties, organic carbon and carbonate content, mineralogy and geochemical composition together with biological proxies including diatom and ostracod assemblages. A detailed pollen study enabled reconstruction of variations in vegetation cover, which were interpreted in the context of climate changes and human impact. Four distinct stages were recognized for the last 13,500 years: (1) a cold and dry episode that includes the Younger Dryas event (13,500–11,600 cal. year BP); (2) a humid and warmer period characterizing the onset of the Holocene (11,600–8,700 cal. year BP); (3) a tendency toward a drier climate during the middle Holocene (8,700–4,650 cal. year BP); and (4) a return to humid conditions following landscape modification by human activity (pastoral activities, deforestation) in the late Holocene (4,650–2,200 cal. year BP). Superimposed on relatively stable landscape conditions (e.g. maintenance of well established forests), the typical environmental variability of the southern European region is observed at this site.The Spanish Inter-Ministry Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT), the Spanish National Parks agency, the European Commission, the Spanish Ministry of Science, and the European Social Fund

Revealing the last 13,500 years of environmental history from the multiproxy record of a mountain lake (Lago Enol, northern Iberian Peninsula)

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10933-009-9387-7.We present the Holocene sequence from Lago Enol (43°16′N, 4°59′W, 1,070 m a.s.l.), Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain. A multiproxy analysis provided comprehensive information about regional humidity and temperature changes. The analysis included sedimentological descriptions, physical properties, organic carbon and carbonate content, mineralogy and geochemical composition together with biological proxies including diatom and ostracod assemblages. A detailed pollen study enabled reconstruction of variations in vegetation cover, which were interpreted in the context of climate changes and human impact. Four distinct stages were recognized for the last 13,500 years: (1) a cold and dry episode that includes the Younger Dryas event (13,500–11,600 cal. year BP); (2) a humid and warmer period characterizing the onset of the Holocene (11,600–8,700 cal. year BP); (3) a tendency toward a drier climate during the middle Holocene (8,700–4,650 cal. year BP); and (4) a return to humid conditions following landscape modification by human activity (pastoral activities, deforestation) in the late Holocene (4,650–2,200 cal. year BP). Superimposed on relatively stable landscape conditions (e.g. maintenance of well established forests), the typical environmental variability of the southern European region is observed at this site.The Spanish Inter-Ministry Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT), the Spanish National Parks agency, the European Commission, the Spanish Ministry of Science, and the European Social Fund

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Behavior of Nanometric Al-Cr and Cr-Al Coatings by Magnetron Sputtering

Multilayer and bilayers structures have attracted much attention as a way of improving the mechanical and corrosion resistance properties of protective coatings. In this work the application of nanometric Al/Cr and Cr/Al bilayers deposited on AA2024-T3, AA60601-T6 aluminum alloys and AISI 9840 steel by magnetron sputtering and DC sputtering was studied. The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in order to consider their application as high corrosion resistance coatings. The corrosion behavior of the films was studied using a NaCl aqueous solution (3.5 wt %

Properties of the ionized gas in HH202. II: Results from echelle spectrophotometry with UVES

We present results of deep echelle spectrophotometry of the brightest knot of the HH202 in the Orion Nebula --HH202-S-- using the ultraviolet Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES). The high spectral resolution has permitted to separate the component associated with the ambient gas from that associated with the gas flow. We derive electron densities and temperatures for both components, as well as the chemical abundances of several ions and elements from collisionally excited lines, including the first determinations of Ca^{+} and Cr^{+} abundances in the Orion Nebula. We also calculate the He^{+}, C^{2+}, O^{+} and O^{2+} abundances from recombination lines. The difference between the O^{2+} abundances determined from collisionally excited and recombination lines --the so-called abundance discrepancy factor-- is 0.35 dex and 0.11 dex for the shock and nebular components, respectively. Assuming that the abundance discrepancy is produced by spatial variations in the electron temperature, we derive values of the temperature fluctuation parameter, t^2, of 0.050 and 0.016, for the shock and nebular components, respectively. Interestingly, we obtain almost coincident t^2 values for both components from the analysis of the intensity ratios of He I lines. We find significant departures from case B predictions in the Balmer and Paschen flux ratios of lines of high principal quantum number n. We analyze the ionization structure of HH202-S, finding enough evidence to conclude that the flow of HH202-S has compressed the ambient gas inside the nebula trapping the ionization front. We measure a strong increase of the total abundances of nickel and iron in the shock component, the abundance pattern and the results of photoionization models for both components are consistent with the partial destruction of dust after the passage of the shock wave in HH202-S.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA