Shannon entropy and particle decays

We deploy Shannon's information entropy to the distribution of branching fractions in a particle decay. This serves to quantify how important a given new reported decay channel is, from the point of view of the information that it adds to the already known ones. Because the entropy is additive, one can subdivide the set of channels and discuss, for example, how much information the discovery of a new decay branching would add; or subdivide the decay distribution down to the level of individual quantum states (which can be quickly counted by the phase space). We illustrate the concept with some examples of experimentally known particle decay distributions.Comment: 12 pages, 18 plots; to appear in Nuclear Physics

Efficacy of the tissue regenerating agent (RGTA) in the treatment of neurotrophic corneal ulcers and persistent epithelial defects

Purpose : To report the results obtained in a series of 58 eyes with chronic corneal ulcers and persistent epithelial defects resistant to conventional therapy and treated with 0.01% poly-carboxymethylglucose sulfate (RGTA, Cacicol®). Methods : A prospective study was made of 58 eyes of patients with corneal ulcers and persistent epithelial lesions secondary to neurotrophic disorders, caustic damage, ulcerated metaherpetic lesions, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, peripheral ulcerative keratitis and severe dry eye, among other conditions. The ulcers were essentially chronic and slow-evolving, with mean vertical and horizontal diameters of 2.4 and 2.7 mm, respectively (range 1-5.5 mm). All patients had been previously treated with classical tear substitutes, and some had also received blood products, topical cyclosporine, corticosteroids, amniotic membrane coverings, therapeutic contact lenses and/or a vitamin-based eye ointment. The patients received an initial dose of one drop in the morning every 48 hours during 10 days. After evaluation of the effects of treatment, new dosing schemes were prescribed for those patients who had improved their clinical condition though without complete resolution of the disease. Results : Important variation was observed in the time to recovery of corneal integrity, ranging from a few days to some weeks, depending on the severity and etiology of the case. Full healing was recorded in 50 patients. The patients with large neurotrophic ulcers showed improvement of the lesions, with a decrease in lesion size after 15 days of treatment. Eight eyes did not achieve complete healing. In the case of severe ulceration and when a positive effect was observed after one month, treatment was continued with spacing of the applications until complete healing was achieved. All patients reported subjective improvement. The drug showed immediate efficacy in 11 eyes with epithelialisation disorders following PRK or trauma, with recovery of tissue integrity after the first treatment period. Conclusions : The tissue regenerating agent (RGTA, Cacicol®) is an interesting and effective topical adjuvant product for the treatment of severe and chronic corneal ulcers resistant to conventional treatment. Its efficacy remains to be confirmed in the context of double-blind, randomised clinical trials

Concepción Bonet Muñoz (1916-2014). Pioneer of professional geology and photogeology in Spain

Concepción Bonet Muñoz (1916-2014) fue la primera mujer que se incorporó a la geología profesional y, además contribuyó en la implementación de la fotogeología en España. Cursó Ciencias Naturales en Madrid, graduándose en 1943. Se dedicó a la enseñanza, y en 1950 obtuvo una beca del CSIC para especializarse como paleontóloga. Entre 1953 y 1954, realizó una estancia en la Universidad de Heerlen (Holanda) para estudiar las megasporas carboníferas. Defendió su Tesis Doctoral en 1955. Entre 1954 y 1956 dió clases en la Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Se especializó en Fotogeología y entre 1956 y 1973 impartió clases de fotogeología. En 1957 ingresó en la Junta de Energía Nuclear, dónde creó el Departamento de Fotogeología y realizó varias estancias de especialización en el extranjero. En 1964 entró en la Dirección General de Carreteras del Ministerio de Obras Públicas, donde permaneció hasta que se jubiló en 1984. Trabajó en el desarrollo del Plan General de Carreteras y participó en los Estudios Geológicos Previos de las principales carreteras, donde influyó en la metodología de trabajo, incluyendo los fotoplanos geológicos como herramienta fundamental de trabajo, tanto por su aportación al conocimiento de la geomorfología como por su utilidad para buscar materias primas para la obra públicaConcepción Bonet Muñoz (1916-2014) was the first woman who joined professional geology, and also she contributed to the implementation of photogeology in Spain. She studied Natural Sciences at Madrid University, finally she was graduated in 1943. She devoted herself to teaching, and in 1950 she obtained a CSIC research grant to specialize as a palaeontologist. Between 1953 and 1954, she got a research grant to stay at the University of Heerlen (Holland) to study the carboniferous megasporas. She completed her PhD in 1955. Between 1954 and 1956 she taught at the Faculty of Natural Sciences. She specialized in Photogeology and between 1956 and 1973 taught photogeology classes. In 1957 she joined the Nuclear Energy Board, where she created the Department of Photogeology and made several specialization stays abroad. In 1964 she joined the Department of Roads of the Ministry of Public Works, where she retired in 1984. She joined the development team of the General Road Plan and participated in the Previous Geological Studies of the main roads, where she strongly influenced the work methodology, making geological photoplanes the fundamental work tool, both for her contribution to the knowledge of geomorphology and for its usefulness in looking for raw materials for public work

Characterization of a population of helicotylenchus dihystera (cobb, 1893) sher, 1961, parasitizing maize roots, in southern Córdoba, Argentina

Los nematodos en espiral del género Helicotylenchus, son parásitos de raíz de numerosas plantas cultivadas y no cultivadas. La identificación específica puede resultar compleja porque comparten diferentes caracteres diagnósticos similares y muestran una considerable variabilidad interespecífica. Su reconocimiento resulta esencial para poder establecer estrategias apropiadas de control o para prevenir su propagación a otras áreas. En este trabajo se evaluaron caracteres morfológicos y caracteres morfométricos de una población relacionada con el cultivo de maíz. Al mismo tiempo, análisis moleculares por PCR de una región del D2-D3 del gen 28s y la región 5.8s-ITS2 permitieron generar dos nuevas secuencias que fueron depositadas en Genbank. Además, por análisis filogenéticos utilizando inferencia Bayesiana, se complementó la identificación de la especie. Este trabajo constituye la primera caracterización morfológica, morfométrica y molecular de una población de Helicotylenchus dihystera para Argentina.Fil: Brücher, Elsa. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Vuletic, Ezequiel Esteban.Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Guerra, Fernando Andrés. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: De Rossi, Roberto Luis. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Plazas, María Cristina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Guerra, Gustavo Darío. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentin

Autophagy and ER-stress in BPAN: insights from the Dictyostelium model

Trabajo presentado en First BPAN disease symposium in France, celebrado en Lyon (Francia) del 13 al 14 de mayo de 2022.WIPIs are a conserved family of proteins with a characteristic 7-bladed b-helix structure. Mutations in human WIPI4 cause BPAN, a rare disease characterized by developmental delay, motor disorders and seizures. The pathological mechanisms leading to BPAN are still unclear and it has been proposed that autophagy, mitochondria homeostasis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress are involved. We have generated a KO mutant in the WIPI4 homologue of Dictyostelium, Wdr45l. This mutant exhibits a complete block in autophagy that is associated with additional phenotypes: increased PI3P, growth arrest, and chronic activation of ER stress. PI3P accumulation is responsible for the growth arrest and chronic ER stress response and can therefore be considered as a potential therapeutic target. We have also analyzed the functionality of a number of pathological variants of WIPI4 with nonsense. Our results show that some of these mutations affect the subcellular localization of the protein, while others impair ATG2 binding

Estimating the impact of a gender-neutral quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccination program in all hpv 6/11/16/18 -related diseases in Colombia

We assessed the public health and economic impact of adding males to the existing female-only quadrivalent HPV vaccine (4vHPV) program in Colombia, analyzing different gender-neutral vaccination (GNV) vaccine coverage rates (VCRs). A published HPV-type dynamic transmission model was used to compare female-only vaccination (FOV) versus GNV with two-dose 4vHPV in the 9-10-year-old cohort over a 100-year timeframe in Colombia. The model compared 35% VCR for FOV with GNV at VCRs of 35% (scenario A), 50% (scenario B) and different VCRs between females/males (50%/35%, scenario C). The predicted health outcomes included HPV 6/11/16/18-related disease and deaths averted [cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal and head and neck cancers, genital warts (GW), and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis], direct healthcare cost prevented by vaccination, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). All GNV scenarios are estimated to provide faster and greater reductions in HPV 6/11/16/18-related diseases relative to FOV at 35% VCR, mainly scenarios B and C. The highest cumulative reductions in the incidence of HPV 6/11/16/18-related disease and deaths were seen in scenario B relative to FOV at 35% VCR at year 100, averting 28,001 cervical cancer (CC) cases, 11,968 non-CC cases (4,753 in females and 7,215 in males) and 15,141 deaths. The greatest projected reductions in health care costs are due to diseases caused by HPV-6/11 infection, driven by GW. The cost savings varied from 88 (scenario A) to 184 million (scenario B) relative to FOV at 35%. The ICER for all scenarios was <0, indicating that under the model assumptions it is cost-saving to implement a GNV-4vHPV in Colombia. In Colombia, a GNV-4vHPV program is a cost-saving strategy in the three scenarios analyzed relative to the current FOV program and result in greater improvement of the public health and economic impact in both women and men

Effects of HCV Eradication on Bone mineral density in HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients

Little is known about the effects of eradication of HCV on bone mineral density (BMD) and biomarkers of bone remodeling in HIV/HCV coinfected patients. We prospectively assessed standardized BMD (sBMD) at the lumbar spine and femoral neck, World Health Organization (WHO) BMD categories at both sites, and plasma concentrations of soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaβ ligand (sRANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) at baseline (the date of initiation of anti-HCV therapy) and at 96 weeks. A total of 238 patients were included, median age 49.5 years, 76.5% males, 48.3% with cirrhosis, 98.3% on antiretroviral therapy, median CD4+ cell count 527 cells/mm 3, 86.6% with HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL. The prevalence of osteoporosis at baseline at the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) was 17.6% and 7.2%, respectively. Anti-HCV therapy comprised pegylated interferon and ribavirin (PegIFN-RBV) plus one direct-acting antiviral in 53.4%, PegIFN-RBV in 34.5%, and sofosbuvir/RBV in 12.2%. A total of 145 (60.9%) patients achieved sustained viral response (SVR). No significant effect of SVR was observed on sBMD for the interaction between time and SVR either in the LS (P=0.801) or the FN (P=0.911). Likewise, no significant effect of SVR was observed in plasma levels of sRANKL (P=0.205), OPG (P=0.249), and sRANKL/OPG ratio (P=0.123) for the interaction between time and SVR. No significant correlation was found between fibrosis by transient elastography, and LS and FN sBMD, at baseline, and week 96. SVR was not associated with significant changes in BMD nor biomarkers of bone remodeling in HIV/HCV-coinfected persons.This study was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCII), grant numbers PI11/01556, PI14/01094, PI14/01581, and PI14CIII/00011, and by Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad, grant number EC11-241. The study was also funded by the RD16/0025/0017, RD16/0025/0018 and RD16CIII/0002/0002 projects as part of the Plan Nacional R + D + I and cofunded by ISCIII-Subdirección General de Evaluación and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER).S

A Bioactive Extract Rich in Triterpenic Acid and Polyphenols from Olea europaea Promotes Systemic Immunity and Protects Atlantic Salmon Smolts Against Furunculosis

In the present study, the modulation of the transcriptional immune response (microarray analysis) in the head kidney (HK) of the anadromous fish Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fed a diet supplemented with an olive fruit extract (AQUOLIVE®) was evaluated. At the end of the trial (133 days), in order to investigate the immunomodulatory properties of the phytogenic tested against a bacterial infection, an in vivo challenge with Aeromonas salmonicida was performed. A total number of 1,027 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (805 up- and 222 downregulated) were found when comparing the transcriptomic profiling of the HK from fish fed the control and AQUOLIVE® diets. The HK transcripteractome revealed an expression profile that mainly favored biological processes related to immunity. Particularly, the signaling of i-kappa B kinase/NF-kappa and the activation of leukocytes, such as granulocytes and neutrophils degranulation, were suggested to be the primary actors of the innate immune response promoted by the tested functional feed additive in the HK. Moreover, the bacterial challenge with A. salmonicida that lasted 12 days showed that the cumulative survival was higher in fish fed the AQUOLIVE® diet (96.9 ± 6.4%) than the control group (60.7 ± 13.5%). These results indicate that the dietary supplementation of AQUOLIVE® at the level of 0.15% enhanced the systemic immune response and reduced the A. salmonicida cumulative mortality in Atlantic salmon smolts.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of a new, rapid, simple test for the detection of influenza virus

BACKGROUND: Influenza virus infections are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in both pediatric and adult populations worldwide. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of influenza is necessary for appropriate patient management during the influenza season and for optimal utilization of anti-influenza therapy. We prospectively tested the accuracy of a simple and rapid diagnostic method. METHODS: Ninety-eight samples (nasal and pharyngeal swabs) from patients with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms who presented to primary healthcare centres in Barcelona (Spain) were prospectively analyzed. The samples were collected as part of influenza surveillance program. Samples that had enough volume to make the new test after aliquoting the amount needed to perform routine tests were included. None of the samples were pre-selected as a result of their status in relation to influenza virus. Samples were analyzed by in-house real-time PCR and Alere™ i Influenza A & B (Alere™ i), which uses isothermal amplification of nucleic acids for the qualitative detection of influenza A and B in nasal swabs transported in viral transport media. The two techniques were compared by positive percent agreement (PPA) and negative percent agreement (NPA). Statistical analysis was performed with Stata. RESULTS: Of the 98 samples analysed 90 were concordant; 46 (46.9%) were positive and 44 (44.9%) were negative. Five samples showed invalid results with the Alere™ i test and could be not re-tested due to insufficient sample volume and were not included in the final statistical analysis. In the 93 remaining samples, the Alere™ i test showed 97% of accuracy having correctly classified 90 samples. We obtained discordant results in 3 samples (3%). The PPA was 93.8% for influenza A and 94.1% for influenza B, and NPA was 100% for influenza A and influenza B virus. In addition, the Alere™ i was very rapid (15 minutes or less) and extremely easy to use. CONCLUSIONS: The Alere™ i test provided a good correlation compared to the real-time PCR test for the diagnosis of influenza. Since this method can be performed in minutes, it allows immediate, accurate clinical decisions to prescribe appropriate antiviral treatment or isolation of patients

Cambios en la etiología, incidencia y pronóstico de la infección respiratoria aguda de vías bajas en pacientes infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana

Aim To describe the, incidence, the changes in the etiology and the prognosis of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in HIV infected patients, presenting by the first time to the Emergency Department (ED), during years 2000-2010. Study design Prospective collection of data. Metbods Data were collected on the first visit of HIV-infected patients at our ED due to a LRTI, (defined according to the criteria of the European Respiratory Society), between 1/1/2000 and 31/12/2010. A series of epidemiological and laboratory variables as well as the need for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). LRTI etiology were also collected. The influence ofthe mentioned variables on 30-day mortality were analyzed. Results One hundred thirty one patients were included. LRTI represented 27% of visits to the ED by HIV-infected patients. Mean age was 39±9 years. 72% of patients were males. 18% required admission to the ICU. The most frequent LRTI was pneumonia by P. jiroveci in 35 cases, bacterial penumonia in 27 and pulmonary tuberculosis in 20. LRTI incidence gradually reduced significantly over time from 6.13 × 1000 patients/year in year 2000 to 0.23 × 1000 patients/year in 2010 (p<0.05). Overall mortality was 14%. Logistic regression analysis showed that admission to ICU (p<0.004) and viral load (p<0.029) were independent variables predicting mortality. Conclusion LRTI is a pathology with a decreasing incidence, probably related to the widespread utilization increased of HAART regimens. lts etiology has also been changing, but with a non negligible mortality, mostly when ICU admission was required.Objetivo Describir la incidencia, la etiología y el pronóstico de la infección de las vías espiratorias bajas (IVRB) en los pacientes VIH, que acudieron a un Servicio de Urgencias (SU), durante el período del 2000–2010. Diseño del estudio Estudio prospectivo de 10 años de evolución. Métodos Se recogió únicamente el primer episodio del paciente que acude al SU por IRVB (definida según la European Respiratory Society). Se analizaron una serie de variables epidemiológicas y de laboratorio, así como la necesidad de ingreso en una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI). Se estudió la etiología de la IRVB y la incidencia. Finalmente se analizaron la influencia de las variables con la mortalidad a 30 días. Resultados Se incluyeron un total de 131 pacientes. La edad media fue de 39 ± 9 años. El 72% de los pacientes eran varones y el 18% de los pacientes requirieron ingreso en la UCI. La IRVB más frecuente fue la neumonía por P. jirovecci, seguida de la neumonía bacteriana en 27 y la tuberculosis pulmonar en 20. La incidencia de IRVB se ha ido reduciendo gradualmente de forma significativa, 6,13 × 1.000 pacientes/año en 2000 a 0,23 × 1.000 pacientes/año en 2010 (p < 0,05). El análisis de regresión logística mostró que la única variable que predijo mortalidad fue el ingreso en UCI (p < 0,05; OR: 73,01). Conclusión La IRVB es una enfermedad cuya incidencia y etiología han ido disminuyendo y cambiando respectivamente, probablemente en relación con la utilización generalizada del TAR. Sin embargo, todavía presenta una mortalidad nada despreciable, que es mayor cuando el paciente requiere ingreso en la UCI