Rabdomiólisis tras la práctica de spinning: una asociación peculiar

ResumenLa rabdomiólisis de esfuerzo es una entidad clínica con unas características especiales. Se describe un cuadro de rabdomiólisis en un varón joven y sano, tras la práctica de una única sesión de spinning y se compara con otros descritos en la literatura. El objetivo es exponer las peculiaridades de la asociación del spinning con la rabdomiólisis por esfuerzo y conocer el riesgo de esta patología, aun en personas sanas, en relación con esta práctica deportiva. La contracción muscular que se produce en este ejercicio y la percepción disminuida del esfuerzo, al ser una actividad realizada en grupo, estimulada ambientalmente y alentada por un monitor, pueden contribuir a esta asociación.AbstractExertional rhabdomyolysis is a distinct entity with special characteristics. We present a case report, and literature review, of rhabdomyolysis in a young healthy male adult after practicing a single spinning session. The objective is to explain the peculiarities of the association spinning and exertional rhabdomyolysis and determine the risk of this disease, even in healthy people, concerning this sport. Muscular contraction during this exercise and the diminished perception of effort, due to being a group activity encouraged by a monitor, may contribute to its association

Occupational Therapy Interventions Using New Technologies in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review

New technologies (NT) are increasingly used in Occupational Therapy (OT) interventions in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We conducted a scoping review to describe OT interventions investigated in scientific literature which use NT in children and adolescents with ASD. Two authors independently searched the scientific databases PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science, carried out a peer-review screening of articles and extracted data. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. OT interventions lasted between 1 week and 12 months, consisted of between 1 session per day and 5 sessions per week, were carried out exclusively by an occupational therapist, and the most used NT was the computer (n = 12). The duration of the interventions and assessment measures used varied greatly between studies

Negative symptoms and sex differences in first episode schizophrenia: What's their role in the functional outcome? A longitudinal study

Introduction Negative symptoms (NS) include asociality, avolition, anhedonia, alogia, and blunted affect and are linked to poor prognosis. It has been suggested that they reflect two different factors: diminished expression (EXP) (blunted affect and alogia) and amotivation/pleasure (MAP) (anhedonia, avolition, asociality). The aim of this article was to examine potential sex differences among first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients and analyze sex-related predictors of two NS symptoms factors (EXP and MAP) and functional outcome. Material and methods Two hundred and twenty-three FES (71 females and 152 males) were included and evaluated at baseline, six-months and one-year. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to examine the effects of time and sex on NS and a multiple linear regression backward elimination was performed to predict NS factors (MAP-EXP) and functioning. Results Females showed fewer NS (p = 0.031; Cohen's d = −0.312), especially those related to EXP (p = 0.024; Cohen's d = −0.326) rather than MAP (p = 0.086), than males. In both male and female group, worse premorbid adjustment and higher depressive symptoms made a significant contribution to the presence of higher deficits in EXP at one-year follow-up, while positive and depressive symptoms predicted alterations in MAP. Finally, in females, lower deficits in MAP and better premorbid adjustment predicted better functioning at one-year follow-up (R2 = 0.494; p < 0.001), while only higher deficits in MAP predicted worse functioning in males (R2 = 0.088; p = 0.012). Conclusions Slightly sex differences have been found in this study. Our results lead us to consider that early interventions of NS, especially those focusing on motivation and pleasure symptoms, could improve functional outcomes

Porous Titanium surfaces to control bacteria growth: mechanical properties and sulfonated polyetheretherketone coating as antibiofounling approaches

Here, titanium porous substrates were fabricated by a space holder technique. The relationship between microstructural characteristics (pore equivalent diameter, mean free-path between pores, roughness and contact surface), mechanical properties (Young’s modulus, yield strength and dynamic micro-hardness) and bacterial behavior are discussed. The bacterial strains evaluated are often found on dental implants: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The colony-forming units increased with the size of the spacer for both types of studied strains. An antibiofouling synthetic coating based on a sulfonated polyetheretherketone polymer revealed an effective chemical surface modification for inhibiting MRSA adhesion and growth. These findings collectively suggest that porous titanium implants designed with a pore size of 100–200 µm can be considered most suitable, assuring the best biomechanical and bifunctional anti-bacterial properties.University of Seville VI Plan Propio de Investigación y Transferencia—US 2018, I.3A

Linearizing Control Based on Adaptive Observer for Anaerobic Continuous Sulphate Reducing Bioreactors with Unknown Kinetics

Anaerobic reactors are a typical example of processes that exhibit non-linear behavior and, also time varying parameters; hence their operation is known to be difficult to model and control. In contrast to modeling approaches, in practice linear controllers are widely employed for industrial processes because of their easy implementation and manipulation by plant operators; nevertheless linear approaches are not robust when the operating conditions change suddenly and/or strong disturbances are present. In order to introduce robust controllers to these processes, this paper addresses the tracking problem for the substrate (sulphate) control in a class of continuous bioreactors. An experimentally corroborated bioreactor model serves as benchmark problem for advanced non-linear analysis and control techniques; taking into account system non-linearities, stability and performance objectives over large operating regions. It is considered that, as it is common in practice, the rate of substrate consumption exhibits uncertainty. Results show that the proposed controller exhibits better dynamic performance than a classical Proportional-Integral control tuned using the methodology suggested by Internal Model Control

Balancing porosity and mechanical properties of titanium samples to favor cellular growth against bacteria

Two main problems limit the success of titanium implants: bacterial infection, which restricts their osseointegration capacity; and the stiffness mismatch between the implant and the host cortical bone, which promotes bone resorption and risk of fracture. Porosity incorporation may reduce this difference in stiffness but compromise biomechanical behavior. In this work, the relationship between the microstructure (content, size, and shape of pores) and the antibacterial and cellular behavior of samples fabricated by the space-holder technique (50 vol % NH4HCO3 and three ranges of particle sizes) is established. Results are discussed in terms of the best biomechanical properties and biofunctional activity balance (cell biocompatibility and antibacterial behavior). All substrates achieved suitable cell biocompatibility of premioblast and osteoblast in adhesion and proliferation processes. It is worth to highlighting that samples fabricated with the 100–200 μm space-holder present better mechanical behavior—in terms of stiffness, microhardness, and yield strength—which make them a very suitable material to replace cortical bone tissues. Those results exposed the relationship between the surface properties and the race of bacteria and mammalian cells for the surface with the aim to promote cellular growth over bacteria.University of Seville (Spain) VI Plan Propio de Investigación y Transferencia—US 2018, I.3A

Potential use of Sargassum muticum as source of plant biostimulants after three different drying methods

Seaweed derived biostimulants are gaining attention as an important tool in sustainable agriculture. This offers a unique opportunity to alleviate the environmental impact of Sargassum muticum (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae) as an invasive species by finding new applications for its biomass. In this sense, incorporating green extraction technologies is fundamental to ensure environmental-friendly goals. This research was initiated in an attempt to contribute to an integral valorization system of S. muticum biomass, exploring the biostimulant potential of the solubles obtained from pressed solids, through an autohydrolysis treatment. In addition, we compared the effect of three different liquid phase drying techniques (spray-drying, freeze-drying and convective air-drying). Low stress drying techniques as spray-drying showed better conservation of bioactive compounds and biostimulant potential. A bioassay with Nastrium officinale showed no phytotoxic effects despite high electric conductivity in most of the extracts and concentrations. Dried extracts showed mainly an amorphous structure but occasional crystal formation when spray-dried at low temperatures (T out  = 50 ºC) and after convective air drying (T = 40 ºC). Significant increases in root development were achieved at a concentration of 5 mg L −1 of spray-dried extracts and 50 mg L −1 in case of freeze-dried extracts. Munoo-Liisa vitality index showed best results with 50 mg L −1 of freeze-dried extracts. This study provides important information about the influence of different drying techniques on the physicochemical properties and biostimulant potential of S. muticum aqueous extracts and contributes to the integral valorization of its biomass.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RYC2018-024454-IXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431F 2020/01Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481D-2022/018Universidade de Vigo/CISU

Production of betalain-rich Opuntia ficus-indica peel flour microparticles using spray-dryer: A holist approach

This study aimed to obtain a betalain-rich extract (BRE) from Opuntia ficus-indica peels and protect them through a holistic approach involving microencapsulation via spray-drying. To enhance the stability of the microencapsulated betalains, an antioxidant-rich extract (ARE) obtained through hydrothermal extraction from the residual material remaining after the conventional extraction of betalains was used as a stabilizer during the spray-drying process. The antioxidant activity of the ARE was evaluated by measuring its IC50 value for 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) of 65.8 μg/mL, its Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) of 60.4 gTrolox eq./100 g, and its reducing power of 16.6 g butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) eq./100 g. Spray-drying parameters were optimized using a Box-Behnken design to enhance the total betalain content and minimize by-product formation. The results demonstrated that the addition of the ARE significantly improved the stability of betalains during spray-drying, leading to the formation of microparticles with high betalain content and enhanced stability. The optimal conditions (0.72% starch, 1.50% BRE and 0.25% ARE) resulted in microparticles with a maximum concentration of 6.74 ± 0.09 mgBetalains/g. The predictive model exhibited high accuracy in estimating experimental values. This research provides a natural and sustainable solution for food coloring by effectively utilizing discarded Opuntia ficus-indica peel. Moreover, it offers new scientific understanding on the production of betalain-rich microparticles as a possible substitute for food coloring, with considerable benefits in terms of sustainability and high antioxidant capacity.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RYC2018-024454-IXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431F 2020/01Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481D-2022/01