Identification of possible new salivary biomarkers of stress in sheep using a high-resolution quantitative proteomic technique

The aim of this study was to identify biological pathways and proteins differentially expressed in the saliva proteome of sheep after the application of a model of stress, using high-resolution quantitative proteomics. In addition, one of the proteins differently expressed was verified and evaluated as a possible biomarker of stress in this species. Saliva paired samples from eight sheep before and after the application of a model of stress based on shearing were analysed using tandem mass tags (TMT). The TMT analysis allowed for the identification of new stress-related metabolic pathways and revealed 13 proteins, never described in saliva of sheep, that were differentially expressed between before and after the stress. Six of these proteins pertain to four major metabolic pathways affected, namely: canonical glycolysis, oxygen transport, neural nucleus development, and regulation of actin cytoskeleton reorganization. The rest of proteins were unmapped original proteins such as acyl-coenzyme-A-binding protein; complement C3; alpha-2-macroglobulin isoform-X1; type-II small proline-rich protein; lactoferrin; secretoglobin family-1D-member; and keratin, type-II cytoskeletal 6. Of these proteins, based on its biological significance and specific immunoassay availability, lactoferrin was selected for further validation. The immunoassay intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were lower than 13%. The method showed good linearity under dilution and recovery, and the detection limit was low enough to detect salivary lactoferrin levels. A significant decrease (P < 0.01) in salivary lactoferrin concentration in the sheep following the application of the model of stress was observed, suggesting that this protein could be a potential salivary biomarker of stress situations in sheep

Spatiotemporal analysis identifies ABF2 and ABF3 as key hubs of endodermal response to nitrate

Nitrate is a nutrient and a potent signal that impacts global gene expression in plants. However, the regulatory factors controlling temporal and cell type–specific nitrate responses remain largely unknown. We assayed nitrate-responsive transcriptome changes in five major root cell types of the Arabidopsis thaliana root as a function of time. We found that gene-expression response to nitrate is dynamic and highly localized and predicted cell type–specific transcription factor (TF)–target interactions. Among cell types, the endodermis stands out as having the largest and most connected nitrate-regulatory gene network. ABF2 and ABF3 are major hubs for transcriptional responses in the endodermis cell layer. We experimentally validated TF–target interactions for ABF2 and ABF3 by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing and a cell-based system to detect TF regulation genome-wide. Validated targets of ABF2 and ABF3 account for more than 50% of the nitrate-responsive transcriptome in the endodermis. Moreover, ABF2 and ABF3 are involved in nitrate-induced lateral root growth. Our approach offers an unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution of the root response to nitrate and identifies important components of cell-specific gene regulatory networks

Daptomycin plus Fosfomycin versus Daptomycin Alone for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus 2 aureus Bacteremia and Endocarditis. A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background We aimed to determine whether daptomycin plus fosfomycin provides higher treatment success than daptomycin alone for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia and endocarditis. Methods A randomized (1:1) phase 3 superiority, open-label, and parallel group clinical trial of adult inpatients with MRSA bacteremia was conducted at 18 Spanish hospitals. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 10 mg/kg of daptomycin intravenously daily plus 2 g of fosfomycin intravenously every 6 hours, or 10 mg/kg of daptomycin intravenously daily. Primary endpoint was treatment success 6 weeks after the end of therapy. Results Of 167 patients randomized, 155 completed the trial and were assessed for the primary endpoint. Treatment success at 6 weeks after the end of therapy was achieved in 40 of 74 patients who received daptomycin plus fosfomycin and in 34 of 81 patients who were given daptomycin alone (54.1% vs 42.0%; relative risk, 1.29 [95% confidence interval, .93-1.8]; P = .135). At 6 weeks, daptomycin plus fosfomycin was associated with lower microbiologic failure (0 vs 9 patients; P = .003) and lower complicated bacteremia (16.2% vs 32.1%; P = .022). Adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in 13 of 74 patients (17.6%) receiving daptomycin plus fosfomycin, and in 4 of 81 patients (4.9%) receiving daptomycin alone (P = .018). Conclusions Daptomycin plus fosfomycin provided 12% higher rate of treatment success than daptomycin alone, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. This antibiotic combination prevented microbiological failure and complicated bacteremia, but it was more often associated with adverse events

Crecimiento de la vegetación acuática en el canal principal de riego del Alto Valle

La presencia de vegetación acuática en los canales del Sistema Integral de Riego del Alto Valle de Río Negro y Neuquen, fue reportada como un problema desde los primeros años de operación del sistema por reducir la capacidad de conducción del canal y su embanque (Ballester, 1926). La creación de los embalses Los Barreales y Mari Menuco del complejo hidroeléctrico Cerros Colorados (1978) favoreció el crecimiento y desarrollo de la vegetación acuática por la pérdida de sedimentos transportados por el río Neuquén, fenómeno conocido como “efecto de aguas claras”. El desarrollo de vegetación acuática afecta la operación y mantenimiento del Sistema de Riego y de las Centrales Hidroeléctricas y del Canal Principal, incrementando los costos y complejizando las tareas de mantenimiento durante la temporada de riego. A fin de profundizar el análisis del problema y delinear estrategias de manejo, se conformó un equipo de trabajo interinstitucional con personal técnico del Consorcio de Riego de Segundo Grado, la empresa Aguas Rionegrinas Sociedad del Estado (ARSE), el Departamento Provincial de Aguas de Río Negro (DPA), la Autoridad Interjurisdiccional de las Cuencas de los ríos Limay, Neuquén y Negro (AIC), el Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) y la Facultad de Ciencias del Ambiente y la Salud (FACIAS) de la Universidad Nacional del Comahue (UNCo). Las tareas realizadas y los resultados alcanzados se presentan en este informe constituyendo una evaluación integral de la problemática mencionada. Las actividades comenzaron en agosto del 2019 con un primer muestreo de diagnóstico a partir del cual se planificó el desarrollo de los trabajos a campo que implicaron mediciones in situ y colección de muestras de agua, sedimentos y material vegetal, durante tres temporadas de riego: 2019-2020, 2020-2021 y 2021-2022. Los principales resultados obtenidos fueron la identificación de la vegetación acuática (plantas vasculares y algas) presente en los distintos sectores del Canal Principal y las condiciones de calidad de agua determinantes para su crecimiento. A partir de los resultados, se delinearon propuestas de manejo del sistema para minimizar el crecimiento de la vegetación acuática. El abordaje de temas técnicos por parte de diferentes instituciones, constituye un enfoque valioso en el que se destaca el aporte de todos los actores a fin de hallar estrategias de gestión consensuadas a un problema concreto como el analizado en el presente estudio.EEA Alto ValleFil: Kamerbeek, Enrique. Aguas Rionegrinas S.E. (ARSE); ArgentinaFil: Labollita, Héctor. Autoridad Interjurisdiccional de las Cuencas de los ríos Limay, Neuquén y Negro (AIC); ArgentinaFil: Othaz Brida, Ayelen. Autoridad Interjurisdiccional de las Cuencas de los ríos Limay, Neuquén y Negro (AIC); ArgentinaFil: Romero, Gustavo. Autoridad Interjurisdiccional de las Cuencas de los ríos Limay, Neuquén y Negro (AIC); ArgentinaFil: Contreras, Aníbal. Autoridad Interjurisdiccional de las Cuencas de los ríos Limay, Neuquén y Negro (AIC); ArgentinaFil: Sorá, Gabriel. Departamento Provincial de Aguas de Río Negro (DPA); ArgentinaFil: Merino Tosoni, María de la Paz. Departamento Provincial de Aguas de Río Negro (DPA); ArgentinaFil: Storti, Cesar. Departamento Provincial de Aguas de Río Negro (DPA); ArgentinaFil: Vettori, Osvaldo. Consorcio de Segundo Grado; ArgentinaFil: Mañueco, María Lucía. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Alto Valle; ArgentinaFil: Gittins López, Cecilia Gabriela. Instituto Nacional Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Área Investigación y Desarrollo Tecn. Agricultura Familiar - Región Patagonia; ArgentinaFil: Sheridan, Miguel Mariano. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Área Investigación y Desarrollo Tecn. Agricultura Familiar - Región Patagonia; ArgentinaFil: Montenegro, Ayelen. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Alto Valle; ArgentinaFil: Guiñazu Micames, Maira Soledad. Instituto Nacional Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Área Investigación y Desarrollo Tecn. Agricultura Familiar - Región Patagonia; ArgentinaFil: Barrionuevo, Myrian Elisabeth. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Área de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Agricultura Familiar Región Patagonia; ArgentinaFil: Córdoba, Joaquín Alejandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Área de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Agricultura Familiar Región Patagonia; ArgentinaFil: Bernardis, Adela. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias del Ambiente y la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Navarro, María Cecilia. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias del Ambiente y la Salud; Argentin

CIBERER : Spanish national network for research on rare diseases: A highly productive collaborative initiative

Altres ajuts: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.CIBER (Center for Biomedical Network Research; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red) is a public national consortium created in 2006 under the umbrella of the Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII). This innovative research structure comprises 11 different specific areas dedicated to the main public health priorities in the National Health System. CIBERER, the thematic area of CIBER focused on rare diseases (RDs) currently consists of 75 research groups belonging to universities, research centers, and hospitals of the entire country. CIBERER's mission is to be a center prioritizing and favoring collaboration and cooperation between biomedical and clinical research groups, with special emphasis on the aspects of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular research of RDs. This research is the basis for providing new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases, in line with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) objectives, thus favoring translational research between the scientific environment of the laboratory and the clinical setting of health centers. In this article, we intend to review CIBERER's 15-year journey and summarize the main results obtained in terms of internationalization, scientific production, contributions toward the discovery of new therapies and novel genes associated to diseases, cooperation with patients' associations and many other topics related to RD research

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Central de resultats: estimació econòmica dels costos derivats de les infeccions nosocomials a Catalunya (Programa VINCat)

Costos; Infeccions nosocomials; CatalunyaCosts; Hospital-acquired infection; CataloniaCostes; Infecciones Nosocomiales; CataluñaLes infeccions hospitalàries o nosocomials, que constitueixen la part més important de les infeccions relacionades amb l’assistència sanitària, provoquen un augment de la morbiditat, la mortalitat i la durada de l’estada hospitalària, comportant no tan sols un problema de salut per als pacients, sinó també una enorme càrrega econòmica per a tot el sistema. Tenir un coneixement clar i precís del cost econòmic d’aquestes infeccions ha de servir per posar de relleu la importància d’invertir recursos en els programes de control de les infeccions nosocomialsque, d’altra banda, són evitables en un percentatge molt elevat d’ocasions si s’apliquen les mesures preventives adequade

Epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 cases : mortality inequalities by socio-economic status, Barcelona, Spain, 24 February to 4 May 2020

Population-based studies characterising outcomes of COVID-19 in European settings are limited, and effects of socio-economic status (SES) on outcomes have not been widely investigated. We describe the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 cases, highlighting incidence and mortality rate differences across SES during the first wave in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. This population-based study reports individual-level data of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases diagnosed from 24 February to 4 May 2020, notified to the Public Health Agency of Barcelona and followed until 15 June 2020. We analysed end-of-study vital status and the effects of chronic conditions on mortality using logistic regression. Geocoded addresses were linked to basic health area SES data, estimated using the composed socio-economic index. We estimated age-standardised incidence, hospitalisation, and mortality rates by SES. Of 15,554 COVID-19-confirmed cases, the majority were women (n = 9,028; 58%), median age was 63 years (interquartile range: 46-83), 8,046 (54%) required hospitalisation, and 2,287 (15%) cases died. Prevalence of chronic conditions varied across SES, and multiple chronic conditions increased risk of death (≥ 3, adjusted odds ratio: 2.3). Age-standardised rates (incidence, hospitalisation, mortality) were highest in the most deprived SES quartile (incidence: 1,011 (95% confidence interval (CI): 975-1,047); hospitalisation: 619 (95% CI: 591-648); mortality: 150 (95% CI: 136-165)) and lowest in the most affluent (incidence: 784 (95% CI: 759-809); hospitalisation: 400 (95% CI: 382-418); mortality: 121 (95% CI: 112-131)). COVID-19 outcomes varied markedly across SES, underscoring the need to implement effective preventive strategies for vulnerable populations

Informe VINCat

Infeccions nosocomials; Hospitals; Vigilància epidemiològicaInfecciones nosocomiales; Hospitales; Vigilancia epidemiológicaNosocomial infections; Hospitals; Epidemiological surveillanceVINCat és un programa del Servei Català de la Salut que estableix un sistema de vigilància unificat de les infeccions nosocomials als hospitals de Catalunya. La seva missió és contribuir a reduir les taxes d’aquestes infeccions mitjançant la vigilància epidemiològica activa i continuada. El programa es fonamenta en la tasca que porten a terme els professionals dels equips multidisciplinaris de control d’infecció dels hospitals catalans.VINCat es un programa del Servicio Catalán de la Salud que establece un sistema de vigilancia unificado de las infecciones nosocomiales en los hospitales de Cataluña. Su misión es contribuir a reducir las tasas de estas infecciones mediante la vigilancia epidemiológica activa y continuada. El programa se fundamenta en la tarea que llevan a cabo los profesionales de los equipos multidisciplinares de control de infección de los hospitales catalanes.VINCat is a program of the Catalan Health Service that establishes a unified surveillance system for nosocomial infections in hospitals in Catalonia. Its mission is to help reduce the rates of these infections through active and ongoing epidemiological surveillance. The program is based on the work carried out by the multidisciplinary teams of infection control of Catalan hospitals

Informe VINCat

Infeccions nosocomials; Hospitals; Vigilància epidemiològicaInfecciones nosocomiales; Hospitales; Vigilancia epidemiológicaNosocomial infections; Hospitals; Epidemiological surveillanceVINCat és un programa que estableix un sistema de vigilància unificat de les infeccions nosocomials als hospitals de Catalunya. La seva missió és contribuir a reduir les taxes d’aquestes infeccions mitjançant la vigilància epidemiològica activa i continuada. El programa es fonamenta en la tasca que porten a terme els professionals dels equips multidisciplinaris de control d’infecció dels hospitals catalans