Oxidative stress and methods used for hydroxyl radical determination

Understanding the role of oxidative stress in brain as well as developing medical strategies to reduce its damaging potential in the aging process and pathogenesis of cancer, neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s diseases and Parkinson’s diseases and other incurable illnesses is an important direction in medicine and biochemistry over the world. This review outlines the processes by which hROS may be formed, their damaging potential and determinations methods. Also, the questions upon the nature of reactive hROS in a Fenton (like) system plays a crucial role will be addressed on this part and several lines of evidences will be presented in order to clarify this issue. Highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (hROS) have been implicated in the etiology of many diseases, therefore monitoring of hROS should be extremely helpful to further investigate and understand the role of hROS in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders and to develop medical strategies to reduce the damaging potential of hROS. The very short half-life of OH• requires the use of trapping agents such as salicylic acid or phenylalanine for detection, but their hydroxylated derivatives are either unstable, or implicated as reactant in biochemical processes. Based on already successfully in vitro and in vivo work done in our group in the past two decades, we decided to use sodium terephthalic acid as a trapping agent, the hydroxylation of which yields only one stable and highly fluorescent isomer, 2-hydroxyterephthalate (OH-TA)

Diversity of salt response among yeasts

Forty-two yeast strains from 27 species belonging to seven genera, selected for their ability to grow in 10% NaCl, have been analysed for their resistance to salt concentrations up to 5 M, by calculating the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC). Using eight different NaCl concentrations from 0 to 5M, results show that halotolerance (MIC) ranges from 1.7 to 3.8 M NaCl, with an avera ge around 2.5 M and confirm that the most halotolerant strains belong to the speciesDebaryomyces hansenii. Since a real halophily could not be found in these isolates, and is generally questioned to be present among the yeast, the effects of NaCl has been measured as salt enhancement effect on growth (MSE), which is defined as the rate between the growth at a given NaCl concentration and theowth in the medium without addition of salt. The implications of these findings in food microbial ecology and technology are discussed

Wearable proximity sensors for monitoring a mass casualty incident exercise: a feasibility study

Over the past several decades, naturally occurring and man-made mass casualty incidents (MCI) have increased in frequency and number, worldwide. To test the impact of such event on medical resources, simulations can provide a safe, controlled setting while replicating the chaotic environment typical of an actual disaster. A standardised method to collect and analyse data from mass casualty exercises is needed, in order to assess preparedness and performance of the healthcare staff involved. We report on the use of wearable proximity sensors to measure proximity events during a MCI simulation. We investigated the interactions between medical staff and patients, to evaluate the time dedicated by the medical staff with respect to the severity of the injury of the victims depending on the roles. We estimated the presence of the patients in the different spaces of the field hospital, in order to study the patients' flow. Data were obtained and collected through the deployment of wearable proximity sensors during a mass casualty incident functional exercise. The scenario included two areas: the accident site and the Advanced Medical Post (AMP), and the exercise lasted 3 hours. A total of 238 participants simulating medical staff and victims were involved. Each participant wore a proximity sensor and 30 fixed devices were placed in the field hospital. The contact networks show a heterogeneous distribution of the cumulative time spent in proximity by participants. We obtained contact matrices based on cumulative time spent in proximity between victims and the rescuers. Our results showed that the time spent in proximity by the healthcare teams with the victims is related to the severity of the patient's injury. The analysis of patients' flow showed that the presence of patients in the rooms of the hospital is consistent with triage code and diagnosis, and no obvious bottlenecks were found

Potential Role of Anti-interleukin (IL)-6 Drugs in the Treatment of COVID-19: Rationale, Clinical Evidence and Risks

The epidemic due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been spreading globally, raising increasing concerns. This public health emergency has triggered a race to find medications to improve the prognosis of this disease. There is currently great interest in drug repositioning to manage SARS-CoV-2 infection, that is, the evaluation of the potential benefits of a drug that has already been proven safe and effective in humans for other approved indications. As interleukin-6 (IL-6) acts as a key driver of the inflammation associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), IL-6 and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) inhibition appear to be promising targets for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. It is important to critically analyze the available evidence concerning the use of the available anti-IL-6 (siltuximab) and anti-IL-6R (tocilizumab and sarilumab) agents in COVID-19 patients, in terms of both benefit and risk. In this review, the pathogenesis of the cytokine storm induced by COVID-19, the role of IL-6 in this cytokine storm, the rationale for the use of anti-IL-6 agents, and key information on potential benefits and safety monitoring of these biologicals in COVID-19 patients is discussed

Paediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: impact on patients and mothers' quality of life

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the causes of fatty liver in adults and is currently the primary form of chronic liver disease in children and adolescents. However, the psychological outcome (i.e. the behavioural problems that can in turn be related to psychiatric conditions, like anxiety and mood disorders, or lower quality of life) in children and adolescents suffering of NAFLD has not been extensively explored in the literature. Objectives: The present study aims at evaluating the emotional and behavioural profile in children suffering from NAFLD and the quality of life in their mothers. Patients and Methods: A total of 57 children (18 females/39 males) with NAFLD were compared to 39 age-matched control children (25 females/14 males). All participants were submitted to the following psychological tools to assess behavior, mood, and anxiety: the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC), the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Moreover, the mothers of 40 NAFLD and 39 control children completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Results: NAFLD children scored significantly higher as compared to control children in MASC (P = 0.001) and CDI total (P < 0.001) scales. The CBCL also revealed significantly higher scores for NAFLD children in total problems (P = 0.046), internalizing symptoms (P = 0.000) and somatic complaints (P < 0.001). The WHOQOL-BREF revealed significantly lower scores for the mothers of NAFLD children in the overall perception of the quality of life (P < 0.001), and in the "relationships" domain (P = 0.023). Conclusions: Increased emotional and behavioural problems were detected in children with NAFLD as compared to healthy control children, together with an overall decrease in their mothers' quality of life. These results support the idea that these patients may benefit from a psychological intervention, ideally involving both children and parents, whose quality of life is likely negatively affected by this disease

Birds of two protected areas in the southern range of the Brazilian Araucaria forest

Mais de 70% das aves ameaçadas de extinção no Rio Grande do Sul habitam ambientes florestais. A criação e manutenção de áreas protegidas é uma das principais medidas apontadas para mitigar esses problemas. Contudo, para que estas áreas possam ser efetivas na conservação dos recursos naturais, o conhecimento sobre a diversidade biológicas nelas contida se faz necessário. Entre 2004 e 2009, foi realizado o levantamento de aves em duas áreas protegidas no Rio Grande do Sul: a Floresta Nacional de Canela (FNC) e o Parque Natural Municipal da Ronda (PMR), áreas representativas da Floresta Ombrófila Mista (florestas com araucárias). Um total de 224 espécies foi registrado, sendo 166 na FNC e 201 no PMR. Dez espécies ameaçadas de extinção no RS foram registradas: Pseudastur polionotus, Odontophorus capueira, Patagioenas cayennensis, Amazona pretrei, A. vinacea, Triclaria malachitacea, Campephilus robustus, Grallaria varia, Procnias nudicollis e Sporophila melanogaster. A riqueza e composição de espécies parecem estar relacionadas aos diferentes graus de conservação das florestas, às suas dimensões e conectividade, bem como à disponibilidade de variados tipos de ambientes. As melhores condições ambientais do PMR, quando comparadas às da FNC, aliadas a sua posição geográfica, resultam em uma avifauna mais rica e composta em maior número por espécies ameaçadas, raras, endêmicas da Mata Atlântica e de alta sensibilidade à perturbação nos habitats. Medidas de manejo são sugeridas visando à conservação e recuperação das condições naturais das áreas a longo prazo.Over 70% of threatened birds in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, south Brazil, inhabit forest environments. The creation and maintenance of protected areas is one of the most important measures aiming to mitigate these problems. However, the knowledge of the local biodiversity is essential so that these areas can effectively preserve the natural resources. Between 2004 and 2009 we sampled the avifauna in two conservation units in Rio Grande do Sul: Floresta Nacional de Canela (FNC) and Parque Natural Municipal da Ronda (PMR), both representative of the Mixed Humid Forest (Araucaria Forest). A total of 224 species was recorded, 116 at FNC and 201 at PMR, ten of which threatened regionally: Pseudastur polionotus, Odontophorus capueira, Patagioenas cayennensis, Amazona pretrei, A. vinacea, Triclaria malachitacea, Campephilus robustus, Grallaria varia, Procnias nudicollis and Sporophila melanogaster. Richness and species composition seem to be related to different stages of forest conservation, to size and connectivity, as well as to the diversity of environments. The better conservation of PMR compared to FNC, allied to its geographic position, results in a richer avifauna, with a larger amount of rare and endangered species, as well as species sensitive to disturbance and endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest. We suggest management actions aiming the conservation and the long-term recovery of natural environments at these sites

La medición y evaluación de la criminalidad organizada en España: ¿misión imposible?

Este artículo presenta un análisis exploratorio de las posibilidades de medición de la criminalidad organizada en España. Inicialmente, se abordan las dificultades de medición del crimen organizado referentes a su definición, la complejidad de su identidad, las fuentes de datos existentes y las posibilidades de obtención de los mismos. A continuación, se procede a la medición de la delincuencia organizada en España, en los últimos diez años, a partir de datos policiales. Dicha medición se plantea en base a tres dimensiones: las organizaciones criminales,las actividades o mercados de la delincuencia organizada y las actividades instrumentalesnecesarias para el desarrollo del crimen organizadoThis article is an explorative analysis of the measurement of organized crime in Spain. The first part of the article explains the principal obstacles to measure organized crime, especially those regarding its definition, its identity, the existing sources of data and the access to organized crime data. The second part is a description of organized crime in Spain by means of official police data in the last ten years. The measurement explores three complementary dimensions: organized crime groups, activities organized crime markets and instrumental activities to develop organized crim

A case of 20-week abortion in a rare communicating rudimentary horn of a misinterpreted unicornuate uterus, incorrectly diagnosed as bicornuate: A serious hazard!

Female genital malformations, as the unicornuate uterus, are deviations from normal anatomy that could impair the reproductive potential of a woman or her health. We present a rare case of a 20-week spontaneous abortion in a 24 years old patient affected by a misunderstood unicornuate uterus with communicating rudimentary horn, previously diagnosed as bicornuate, and for this reason subjected to induction of abortive labor, using mifepristone and gemeprost. Following the ultrasound exam and MRI, performed due to the failure of the abortive procedure, revealed the diagnosis of unicornuate uterus with (not clear) communicating accessory horn pregnancy, then treated with laparotomy. 3D-ultrasonography, and above all MRI, should be performed in all those cases of suspected uterine anomalies, especially in presence of pregnancy or abortion, with the aim of avoiding wrong treatments, which leads to a high risk of uterine rupture. In this case, given the uncertainty of imaging exams performed in such an advanced second trimester of pregnancy, only the surgical approach was able to discover the real communication

¿Evolucionan los libros de texto de matemáticas con los cambios curriculares? Estudio de la regresión y la correlación lineal en la Educación Secundaria en España

En este artículo se presentan los resultados de una investigación cuyo objetivo es analizar si los libros de texto recogen los cambios curriculares de las diferentes leyes educativas españolas, estudiando el caso de la regresión y correlación lineal. Las categorías de análisis empleadas se definen atendiendo a una triple vertiente: análisis de los libros de texto a partir de las dimensiones conceptual, didáctico-cognitiva y fenomenológica; clasificación de los ejercicios y problemas; y uso de las TIC. Los resultados indican que, con el cambio de las leyes educativas, se han eliminado algunas demostraciones y se ha reducido la componente formal propia de la matemática moderna. La exposición deductiva sigue primando frente al fomento de la indagación como herramienta de construcción del conocimiento. Los ejercicios son mayoritariamente algorítmicos y la presencia de situaciones problemáticas es testimonial