Hypophosphatemia As a Possible Biomarker for Epileptic Seizures at the Emergency Department

Introduction: Hypophosphatemia seems to be temporally associated with seizures, despite not being considered a trigger. We aimed to evaluate hypophosphatemia as a biomarker for seizures. Methods: Retrospective study, including all consecutive patients admitted at our central hospital's emergency department from 01/01-31/03/2021, screened as "altered consciousness/syncope" or "seizures", with available phosphate levels. Results: 277 patients included, mostly male (61.7%), mean age 64.3 years. Final diagnosis was "seizure" in 34.7% and "other diagnosis" in 65.3%. Patients with seizures were younger (p200U/L) was more frequent in the seizure group (p=0.04). Odds ratio (OR) of hypophosphatemia for seizures was 4.330 (CI 95% 2.170-8.640, p<0.001), persisting after correction for confounders. OR of hyperCK was 1.890 (CI 95% 1.060-3.371, p=0.03), losing significance when adjusted. Sensitivity was low for both. Hypophosphatemia was more specific (91.2% vs 79.9%). Conclusions: Our findings support hypophosphatemia as a seizure biomarker. More studies are needed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

DevSecOps metrics

DevSecOps is an emerging paradigm that breaks the Security Team Silo into the DevOps Methodology and adds security practices to the Software Development Cycle (SDL). Security practices in SDL are important to avoid data breaches, guarantee compliance with the law and is an obligation to protect customers data. This study aims to identify metrics teams can use to measure the effectiveness of DevSecOps methodology implementation inside organizations. To that end, we performed a Multivocal Literature Review (MLR), where we reviewed a selection of grey literature. Several metrics purposed by professionals to monitor DevSecOps were identified and listed.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Analysis of Moon impact flashes detected during the 2012 and 2013 Perseids

We present the results of our Moon impact flashes detection campaigns performed around the maximum activity period of the Perseid meteor shower in 2012 and 2013. Just one flash produced by a Perseid meteoroid was detected in 2012 because of very unfavourable geometric conditions, but 12 of these were confirmed in 2013. The visual magnitude of the flashes ranged between 6.6 and 9.3. A luminous efficiency of 1.8 $\times$ 10$^{-3}$ has been estimated for meteoroids from this stream. According to this value, impactor masses would range between 1.9 and 190 g. In addition, we propose a criterion to establish, from a statistical point of view, the likely origin of impact flashes recorded on the lunar surface.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics on March 11, 201

L’utilisation combinée des scores GRACE et CRUSADE pour la stratification du risque d’infarctus du myocarde

BACKGROUND: Risk assessment is fundamental in the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), enabling estimation of prognosis. AIMS: To evaluate whether the combined use of GRACE and CRUSADE risk stratification schemes in patients with myocardial infarction outperforms each of the scores individually in terms of mortality and haemorrhagic risk prediction. METHODS: Observational retrospective single-centre cohort study including 566 consecutive patients admitted for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The CRUSADE model increased GRACE discriminatory performance in predicting all-cause mortality, ascertained by Cox regression, demonstrating CRUSADE independent and additive predictive value, which was sustained throughout follow-up. The cohort was divided into four different subgroups: G1 (GRACE<141; CRUSADE<41); G2 (GRACE<141; CRUSADE≥41); G3 (GRACE≥141; CRUSADE<41); G4 (GRACE≥141; CRUSADE≥41). RESULTS: Outcomes and variables estimating clinical severity, such as admission Killip-Kimbal class and left ventricular systolic dysfunction, deteriorated progressively throughout the subgroups (G1 to G4). Survival analysis differentiated three risk strata (G1, lowest risk; G2 and G3, intermediate risk; G4, highest risk). The GRACE+CRUSADE model revealed higher prognostic performance (area under the curve [AUC] 0.76) than GRACE alone (AUC 0.70) for mortality prediction, further confirmed by the integrated discrimination improvement index. Moreover, GRACE+CRUSADE combined risk assessment seemed to be valuable in delineating bleeding risk in this setting, identifying G4 as a very high-risk subgroup (hazard ratio 3.5; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Combined risk stratification with GRACE and CRUSADE scores can improve the individual discriminatory power of GRACE and CRUSADE models in the prediction of all-cause mortality and bleeding. This combined assessment is a practical approach that is potentially advantageous in treatment decision-making

Cartilage and bone regeneration: how close are we to bedside?

The treatment/regeneration of bone and cartilage diseases or defects, whether induced by rheumatism, joint dysplasia, trauma, or surgery presents great challenges that have not been fully solved by the current therapies. In the last few years, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have been proposing advanced tools and technologies for bone and cartilage tissue regeneration, and some of which have successfully reached the market. Beyond the source of cells, the creation of superior structures for replacing defective bone and cartilage requires strong research in biomechanical signaling and synthesis of advanced biomaterials to mimic human tissues at the most varied levels. Natural and synthetic polymers, bioresorbable inorganic materials, and composites have been investigated for its potential as scaffolding materials with enhanced mechanical and biological properties. Porous scaffolds, hydrogels, and fibers are the most commonly biomimetic structures used for bone and cartilage tissue engineering. Herein, the concepts and current treatment strategies for bone and cartilage repair, as well as biomimetic strategies for bone and cartilage tissue engineering are overviewed. A global review of the ongoing clinical trials and of the scaffolds commercially available for the repair of osteochondral tissue is also presented.(undefined

Characterization of the multiheme cytochromes involved in the extracellular electron transfer pathway of Thermincola ferriacetica

Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) are emerging as a suite of versatile sustainable technologies to produce electricity and added‐value compounds from renewable and carbon‐neutral sources using electroactive organisms. The incomplete knowledge on the molecular processes that allow electroactive organisms to exchange electrons with electrodes has prevented their real‐world implementation. In this manuscript we investigate the extracellular electron transfer processes performed by the thermophilic Gram‐positive bacteria belonging to the Thermincola genus, which were found to produce higher levels of current and tolerate higher temperatures in BES than mesophilic Gram‐negative bacteria. In our study, three multiheme c‐type cytochromes, Tfer_0070, Tfer_0075, and Tfer_1887, proposed to be involved in the extracellular electron transfer pathway of T. ferri-acetica, were cloned and over‐expressed in E. coli. Tfer_0070 (ImdcA) and Tfer_1887 (PdcA) were purified and biochemically characterized. The electrochemical characterization of these proteins supports a pathway of extracellular electron transfer via these two proteins. By contrast, Tfer_0075 (CwcA) could not be stabilized in solution, in agreement with its proposed insertion in the pepti-doglycan wall. However, based on the homology with the outer‐membrane cytochrome OmcS, a structural model for CwcA was developed, providing a molecular perspective into the mechanisms of electron transfer across the peptidoglycan layer in Thermincola.publishersversionpublishe

Dry weight partitioning and hydraulic traits in young <i>Pinus taeda</i> trees fertilized with nitrogen and phosphorus in a subtropical area

Plants of Pinus taeda L. from each of four families were fertilized with N, P or N+P at planting. The H family had the highest growth in dry mass while the L family had the lowest growth. Measurements of plant hydraulic architecture traits were performed during the first year after planting. Stomatal conductance (gs), water potential at predawn (Ψpredawn) and at midday (Ψmidday), branch hydraulic conductivity (ks and kl) and shoot hydraulic conductance (K) were measured. One year after planting, dry weight partitioning of all aboveground organs was performed. P fertilization increased growth in all four families, while N fertilization had a negative effect on growth. L family plants were more negatively affected than H family plants. This negative effect was not due to limitations in N or P uptake because plants from all the families and treatments had the same N and P concentration in the needles. P fertilization changed some hydraulic parameters, but those changes did not affect growth. However, the negative effect of N can be explained by changes in hydraulic traits. L family plants had a high leaf dry weight per branch, which was increased by N fertilization. This change occurred together with a decrease in shoot conductance. Therefore, the reduction in gs was not enough to avoid the drop in Ψmidday. Consequently, stomatal closure and the deficient water status of the needles resulted in a reduction in growth. In H family plants, the increase in number of needles per branch due to N fertilization was counteracted by a reduction in gs and also by a reduction in tracheid lumen size and length. Because of these two changes, Ψmidday did not drop and water availability in the needles was adequate for sustained growth. In conclusion, fertilization affects the hydraulic architecture of plants, and different families develop different strategies. Some of the hydraulic changes can explain the negative effect of N fertilization on growth.Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal (INFIVE

Dry weight partitioning and hydraulic traits in young <i>Pinus taeda</i> trees fertilized with nitrogen and phosphorus in a subtropical area

Plants of Pinus taeda L. from each of four families were fertilized with N, P or N+P at planting. The H family had the highest growth in dry mass while the L family had the lowest growth. Measurements of plant hydraulic architecture traits were performed during the first year after planting. Stomatal conductance (gs), water potential at predawn (Ψpredawn) and at midday (Ψmidday), branch hydraulic conductivity (ks and kl) and shoot hydraulic conductance (K) were measured. One year after planting, dry weight partitioning of all aboveground organs was performed. P fertilization increased growth in all four families, while N fertilization had a negative effect on growth. L family plants were more negatively affected than H family plants. This negative effect was not due to limitations in N or P uptake because plants from all the families and treatments had the same N and P concentration in the needles. P fertilization changed some hydraulic parameters, but those changes did not affect growth. However, the negative effect of N can be explained by changes in hydraulic traits. L family plants had a high leaf dry weight per branch, which was increased by N fertilization. This change occurred together with a decrease in shoot conductance. Therefore, the reduction in gs was not enough to avoid the drop in Ψmidday. Consequently, stomatal closure and the deficient water status of the needles resulted in a reduction in growth. In H family plants, the increase in number of needles per branch due to N fertilization was counteracted by a reduction in gs and also by a reduction in tracheid lumen size and length. Because of these two changes, Ψmidday did not drop and water availability in the needles was adequate for sustained growth. In conclusion, fertilization affects the hydraulic architecture of plants, and different families develop different strategies. Some of the hydraulic changes can explain the negative effect of N fertilization on growth.Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal (INFIVE