Drivers who tested positive for cannabis in oral fluid: a longitudinal analysis of administrative data for Spain between 2011 and 2016

Producción CientíficaObjectives: This study aimed to assess the association between positive roadside tests for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other driving-impairing substances and THC concentrations and the age and gender of THC-positive drivers. Design: This study is based on administrative data. Setting,: participants and exposures National administrative data on drivers who tested positive in confirmation analysis of driving-impairing substances in oral fluid were assessed (2011–2016, 179 645 tests). Primary and secondary outcome measures Frequencies of positivity for THC, THC alone and THC plus non-THC substances (stratification by age and gender in 2016) and THC concentration were obtained. Comparisons and univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed. Results: Of the 65 244 confirmed drug-positive tests, 51 869 were positive for THC (79.5%). In 50.8% of the THC-positive tests, cocaine and amphetamines were also detected. Positivity for THC and non-THC substances predominated among drivers with low THC concentrations and represented 58.6% of those with levels lower than 25 ng/mL. The mean±SD for age was 29.6±7.7 years (year 2016, n=24 941). Men accounted for 96.3% of all THC-positive drivers. With increasing age, positivity for THC decreased (OR 0.948; 95% CI 0.945 to 0.952; p<0.0001), and positivity for THC and non-THC substances increased (OR 1.021; 95% CI 1.017 to 1.024; p<0.0001). Men were associated with higher THC concentrations (OR 1.394; 95% CI 1.188 to 1.636; p<0.0001). Conclusions: Cannabis positivity is frequent among drivers, and polysubstance use is common. Hence, focusing on younger drivers and those with low THC concentrations is encouraged. This study provides evidence on the current implementation of roadside drug testing in Spain and aims to characterise driving under the influence (DUI) of cannabis to increase the awareness of all involved to help them avoid DUI. This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grant RD16/0017/0006

Interference Control Modulations Over Conscious Perception

The relation between attention and consciousness has been a controversial topic over the last decade. Although there seems to be an agreement on their distinction at the functional level, no consensus has been reached about attentional processes being or not necessary for conscious perception. Previous studies have explored the relation of alerting and orienting systems of attention and conscious perception, but the impact of the anterior executive attention system on conscious access remains unexplored. In the present study, we investigated the behavioral interaction between executive attention and conscious perception, testing control mechanisms both at stimulus-level representation and after error commission. We presented a classical Stroop task, manipulating the proportion of congruent and incongruent trials, and analyzed the effect of reactive and proactive control on the conscious perception of near-threshold stimuli. Reactive control elicited under high proportion congruent conditions influenced participants’ decision criterion, whereas proactive control elicited under low proportion congruent conditions was ineffective in modulating conscious perception. In addition, error commission affected both perceptual sensitivity to detect near-threshold information and response criterion. These results suggest that reactivation of task goals through reactive control strategies in conflict situations impacts decision stages of conscious processing, whereas interference control elicited by error commission impacts both perceptual sensitivity and decision stages of conscious processing. We discuss the implications of our results for the gateway hypothesis about attention and consciousness, as they showed that interference control (both at stimulus-level representation and after error commission) can modulate the conscious access of near-threshold stimuli

Interference Control Modulations Over Conscious Perception

The relation between attention and consciousness has been a controversial topic over the last decade. Although there seems to be an agreement on their distinction at the functional level, no consensus has been reached about attentional processes being or not necessary for conscious perception. Previous studies have explored the relation of alerting and orienting systems of attention and conscious perception, but the impact of the anterior executive attention system on conscious access remains unexplored. In the present study, we investigated the behavioral interaction between executive attention and conscious perception, testing control mechanisms both at stimulus-level representation and after error commission. We presented a classical Stroop task, manipulating the proportion of congruent and incongruent trials, and analyzed the effect of reactive and proactive control on the conscious perception of near-threshold stimuli. Reactive control elicited under high proportion congruent conditions influenced participants' decision criterion, whereas proactive control elicited under low proportion congruent conditions was ineffective in modulating conscious perception. In addition, error commission affected both perceptual sensitivity to detect near-threshold information and response criterion. These results suggest that reactivation of task goals through reactive control strategies in conflict situations impacts decision stages of conscious processing, whereas interference control elicited by error commission impacts both perceptual sensitivity and decision stages of conscious processing. We discuss the implications of our results for the gateway hypothesis about attention and consciousness, as they showed that interference control (both at stimulus-level representation and after error commission) can modulate the conscious access of near-threshold stimuli

Roadside opioid testing of drivers using oral fluid: the case of a country with a zero tolerance law, Spain

Producción CientíficaBackground: Opioids can impair psychomotor performance, and driving under the influence of opioids is associated with an increased risk of accidents. The goals of this study were i) to determine the prevalence of opioids (heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone and tramadol) in Spanish drivers and ii) to explore the presence of opioids, more specifically whether they are used alone or in combination with other drugs. Methods: The 2008/9 DRUID database regarding Spain was used, which provided information on 3302 drivers. All drivers included in the study provided a saliva sample and mass-chromatographic analyses were carried out in all cases. To determine the prevalence, the sample was weighted according to traffic intensity. In the case of opioid use combinations, the sample was not weighted. The detection limit for each substance was considered a positive result. Results: The prevalence of opioids in Spanish drivers was 1.8% (95% CI, 1.4–2.3). Polydrug detection was common (56.2%): of these, in two out of three cases, two opioids were detected and cocaine was also detected in 86% of the cases. The concentration (median [Q1-Q3] ng/ml) of the substances was low: methadone 1.71 [0.10–15.30], codeine 40.55 [2.10–120.77], 6-acetylmorphine 5.71 [1.53–84.05], and morphine 37.40 [2.84–200.00]. Morphine was always detected with 6-acetylmorphine (heroin use). Conclusions: Driving under the influence of opioids is relatively infrequent, but polydrug use is common. Our study shows that 6 out of 10 drivers with methadone in their OF (likely in methadone maintenance programs) are using other substances. This should be taken into account by health professionals in order to properly inform patients about the added risks of mixing substances when driving.Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grants RD12/0028/0012 and RD16/0017/0006

Roadside opioid testing of drivers using oral fluid: the case of a country with a zero tolerance law, Spain

Abstract Background Opioids can impair psychomotor performance, and driving under the influence of opioids is associated with an increased risk of accidents. The goals of this study were i) to determine the prevalence of opioids (heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone and tramadol) in Spanish drivers and ii) to explore the presence of opioids, more specifically whether they are used alone or in combination with other drugs. Methods The 2008/9 DRUID database regarding Spain was used, which provided information on 3302 drivers. All drivers included in the study provided a saliva sample and mass-chromatographic analyses were carried out in all cases. To determine the prevalence, the sample was weighted according to traffic intensity. In the case of opioid use combinations, the sample was not weighted. The detection limit for each substance was considered a positive result. Results The prevalence of opioids in Spanish drivers was 1.8% (95% CI, 1.4–2.3). Polydrug detection was common (56.2%): of these, in two out of three cases, two opioids were detected and cocaine was also detected in 86% of the cases. The concentration (median [Q1-Q3] ng/ml) of the substances was low: methadone 1.71 [0.10–15.30], codeine 40.55 [2.10–120.77], 6-acetylmorphine 5.71 [1.53–84.05], and morphine 37.40 [2.84–200.00]. Morphine was always detected with 6-acetylmorphine (heroin use). Conclusions Driving under the influence of opioids is relatively infrequent, but polydrug use is common. Our study shows that 6 out of 10 drivers with methadone in their OF (likely in methadone maintenance programs) are using other substances. This should be taken into account by health professionals in order to properly inform patients about the added risks of mixing substances when driving

Evidencias del metamorfismo en cromititas ricas en Fe del oriente de las Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina

This research was supported by the research programs UNAM-PAPIIT (IA-101419) and Ciencia Basica of CONACYT (A1-S-14574). Thanks also to the Spanish research projects CGL2015-65824-P, CGL2014-55949-R, RTI2018-099157A-I00, PID2019-105625RB-C21 and the Ramon y Cajal Fellowship RYC-2015-17596 granted by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades and MINECO. The analytical data were obtained using instrumentation funded by DEST Systemic Infrastructure Grants, ARC LIEF, NCRIS/AuScope, industry partners and Macquarie University. We thank to Carlos Linares (Laboratorio de Universitario de Petrologia, UNAM, Mexico) and Dr Augusto A. Rodriguez (Laboratorio de Petrografia y Microtermometria del Instituto de Geofisica, UNAM, Mexico) for their help with the EMPA analyses on silicates and with the backscattered electron (BSE) images, respectively. We would also like to thank Qing Xiong and Sisir Mondal for their formal reviews. This is a contribution 1489 from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems (http://www.ccfs.mq.edu.au) and 1382 in the GEMOC Key Centre (http://www.gemoc.mq.edu.au), and is related to IGCP-662.Chromitites hosted in the serpentinized harzburgite bodies from Los Congos and Los Guanacos (Eastern Pampean Ranges, north Argentina) record a complex metamorphic evolution. The hydration of chromitites during the retrograde metamorphism, their subsequent dehydration during the prograde metamorphism and the later-stage cooling, have resulted in a threefold alteration of chromite: i) Type I is characterized by homogeneous Fe3+- and Cr-rich chromite; ii) Type II chromite contains exsolved textures that consist in blebs and fine lamellae of a magnetite-rich phase hosted in a spinel-rich phase; iii) Type III chromite is formed by variable proportions of magnetite-rich and spinel-rich phases with symplectitic texture. Type I chromite shows lower Ga and higher Co, Zn and Mn than magmatic chromites from chromitites in suprasubduction zone ophiolites as a consequence of the redistribution of these elements between Fe3+-rich non-porous chromite and silicates during the prograde metamorphism. Whereas, the spinel-rich phase in Type III chromite is enriched in Co, Zn, Sc, and Ga, but depleted in Mn, Ni, V and Ti with respect to the magnetite-rich phase, due to the metamorphic cooling from high-temperature conditions. The pseudosection calculated in the fluid-saturated FCrMACaSH system, and contoured for Cr# and Mg#, allows us to constrain the temperature of formation of Fe3+-rich non-porous chromite by the diffusion of magnetite in Fe2+-rich porous chromite at <500 ºC and 20 kbar. The subsequent dehydration of Fe3+-rich non-porous chromite by reaction with antigorite and chlorite formed Type I chromite and Mg-rich olivine and pyroxene at >800 ºC and 10 kbar. The ultimate hydration of silicates in Type I chromite and the exsolution of Type II and Type III chromites would have started at ~600 ºC. These temperatures are in the range of those estimated for ocean floor serpentinization (<300 ºC and <4 kbar), the regional prograde metamorphism in the granulite facies (800 ºC and <10 kbar), and subsequent retrogression to the amphibolite facies (600 ºC and 4-6.2 kbar) in the host ultramafic rocks at Los Congos and Los Guanacos. A continuous and slow cooling from granulite to amphibolite facies produced the exsolution of spinel-rich and magnetite- rich phases, developing symplectitic textures in Type III chromite. However, the discontinuous and relatively fast cooling produced the exsolution of magnetite-rich phase blebs and lamellae within Type II chromite. The P-T conditions calculated in FCrMACaSH system and the complex textural and geochemical fingerprints showed by Type I, Type II and Type III chromites leads us to suggest that continent-continent collisional orogeny better records the fingerprints of prograde metamorphism in ophiolitic chromitites.Las cromititas incluidas en los cuerpos de harzburgita serpentinizada de Los Congos y Los Guanacos (Sierras Pampeanas Orientales, norte de Argentina) registran una evolución metamórfica compleja. La hidratación de las cromititas durante el metamorfismo retrógrado, su posterior deshidratación durante el metamorfismo prógrado y el subsecuente enfriamiento ha dado como resultado la formación de tres tipos de cromita alterada: i) Tipo I, caracterizada por una cromita homogénea y rica en Fe3+ y Cr; ii) cromita Tipo II, con texturas de exsolución que consisten en gránulos y lamelas finas de una fase rica en magnetita alojada en una fase rica en espinela; iii) cromita Tipo III, formada por proporciones variables de las fases ricas en magnetita y espinela con textura simplectítica. La cromita Tipo I muestra menor Ga pero mayor Co, Zn y Mn que las cromitas magmáticas de las cromititas ofiolíticas en zonas de suprasubducción como consecuencia de la redistribución de estos elementos entre la cromita no porosa rica en Fe3+ y los silicatos durante el metamorfismo prógrado. En cambio, la fase rica en espinela en la cromita Tipo III está enriquecida en Co, Zn, Sc y Ga, pero empobrecida en Mn, Ni, V y Ti respecto a la fase rica en magnetita debido al enfriamiento metamórfico desde condiciones de alta temperatura. La pseudosección calculada en el sistema FCrMACaSH saturado de agua y contorneada para el #Cr y #Mg, nos permite restringir la temperatura de formación de la cromita no porosa rica en Fe3+ debido a la difusión de la magnetita en la cromita porosa rica en Fe2+ a <500 ºC y 20 kbar. La posterior deshidratación de la cromita no porosa rica en Fe3+ formó por reacción con antigorita y clorita, cromita Tipo I y olivino y piroxeno ricos en Mg a >800 ºC y 10 kbar. La hidratación final de los silicatos en la cromita Tipo I y la exsolución de las cromitas Tipo II y Tipo III pudo haber comenzado a ~600 ºC. Estas temperaturas están en el rango de las estimadas para la serpentinización de fondo oceánico (<300 ºC y <4 kbar), el metamorfismo regional prógrado en facies de granulita (800 ºC y <10 kbar), y la posterior retrogresión a facies de anfibolita (600 ºC y 4-6.2 kbar) de las rocas ultramáficas encajantes en Los Congos y Los Guanacos. Un enfriamiento continuo y lento de facies de granulita a anfibolita produjo la exsolución de las fases ricas en espinela y magnetita, desarrollando texturas simpléctíticas en la cromita Tipo III. Sin embargo, el enfriamiento discontinuo y relativamente rápido produjo la exsolución de los gránulos y las lamelas de la fase rica en magnetita dentro de la cromita Tipo II. Las condiciones P-T calculadas en el sistema FCrMACaSH y las complejas texturas y firmas geoquímicas mostradas por las cromitas Tipo I, Tipo II y Tipo III nos permiten sugerir que las orogenias que implican la colisión continente-continente registran mejor las firmas del metamorfismo prógrado en las cromititas ofiolíticas.Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigacion e Innovacion Tecnologica (PAPIIT) Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico IA-101419Ciencia Basica of CONACYT A1-S-14574Spanish research projects CGL2015-65824-P CGL2014-55949-R RTI2018-099157A-I00 PID2019-105625RB-C21Ramon y Cajal Fellowship - Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades RYC-2015-17596MINECOAustralian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and ScienceAustralian Research CouncilAustralian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and ScienceMacquarie Universit

Identification of early stage recurrence endometrial cancer biomarkers using bioinformatics tools

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the sixth most common cancer in women worldwide. Early diagnosis is critical in recurrent EC management. The present study aimed to identify biomarkers of EC early recurrence using a workflow that combined text and data mining databases (DisGeNET, Gene Expression Omnibus), a prioritization algorithm to select a set of putative candidates (ToppGene), protein‑protein interaction network analyses (Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes, cytoHubba), association analysis of selected genes with clinicopathological parameters, and survival analysis (Kaplan‑Meier and Cox proportional hazard ratio analyses) using a The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort. A total of 10 genes were identified, among which the targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) was the most promising independent prognostic biomarker in stage I EC. TPX2 expression (mRNA and protein) was higher (P50% compared with <50%; P<0.01), and in intermediate‑high recurrence risk tumors compared with low‑risk tumors (P<0.05). Further validation studies in larger and independent EC cohorts will contribute to confirm the prognostic value of TPX2